Bengals' Orlando Brown Jr. opens up about Joe Burrow trade rumors

At least one report from this past winter indicated that Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow could basically ask to be traded next offseason if the club misses the playoffs for the fourth time in four years. 

During a Monday appearance on the FanDuel TV "Up & Adams" program, Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr. addressed the Burrow-related rumors that have hovered over the organization for months. 

Does Joe Burrow love being with the Bengals?

"I think at the end of the day, Joe gives his all for the city, man, and he loves being a Bengal. He loves what he’s doing for a living," Brown explained, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "And, like I said, it all comes down to winning. When we get in the playoffs and start putting ourselves in position to play in February, I think a lot of that kind of stuff would die down naturally." 

Legitimate questions about Burrow's future in Cincinnati arose when he first mentioned in December 2025 that he needed "to have fun [playing] again." However, he later insisted that he is happy to stay with the Bengals even though he has had some "bad" days since being selected as the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Most recently, Burrow suffered a toe injury in Week 2 of the 2025 season that kept him out of action until Week 13. While he ultimately returned to the lineup, Cincinnati finished the campaign with a record of 6-11.

Has Orlando Brown Jr. spoken with Joe Burrow about the rumors? 

Burrow signed a five-year, $275M contract extension in September 2023, so Bengals fans shouldn't lose too much sleep regarding his short-term future. During Monday's segment, Brown was asked if he and Burrow had chatted about the trade rumors that have popped up since December. 

"Honestly, I’ve never really spoken to him about it," Brown responded. "I just assume it’s part of the business. In today’s NFL, and even throughout NFL history, the media has driven the sport, and it’s what makes football football. It’s what makes American football so popular. These storylines are always great, but a lot of times they’re full of s--."

Burrow almost certainly isn't going anywhere this offseason, but it remains to be seen how he could react if the Bengals fail to participate in the next NFL postseason tournament.