Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Joe Burrow's personal disappointment in Bengals' 2025 schedule may force the NFL's hand for next year

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated May 20, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Joe Burrow wanted to play in an international game this season for the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Bengals are staying in the U.S.A. for all of 2025.

The 28-year old didn't just want to stamp a new country on his passport. Burrow's motivation for playing overseas as part of the NFL's international series is a lot larger than that.

It's something the league as a whole ought to remember for next year.

Joe Burrow shares why he wanted the Bengals to play internationally this season

The Bengals were eligible to play in one of three international games this season. A matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, or Miami Dolphins were all technically on the table as Cincinnati will visit all three teams on the road this year, but the NFL opted to keep the Bengals in the country.

Burrow hopes that changes next year in order to help support his mission to grow the game outside of the States.

"Maybe an international game next year too," Burrow said Tuesday of what he wants from next year's schedule. "I think part of the reason I wanted to do the 'Quarterback' show, I wanted to help grow the game internationally, and so to not have a stage like that is a little disappointing, because I feel like I've consciously worked hard to try to grow the game internationally over the last 18 months or so. So hopefully at some point in my career we can go over there."

Joe and Zac speak to the media following practice https://t.co/lohnNFCzbK
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 20, 2025

Burrow referencing work toward growing the game beyond the country is backed by what he's done over the last year. Along with agreeing to be featured in Netflix's "Quarterback," he went across the pond in 2024 for the Vogue World: Paris fashion show last summer and even talked publicly about giving fans more insight on the people underneath the helmets and pads.

"I think the way the younger generation is going is they really want to see the personality of the players," Burrow said last June. "The personality of the people playing the game, not quite as interested in what's happening on the field, and more interested in who's playing. And I think that's an exciting time, because I think ten, fifteen years ago, it was more about the shield, the league, and now it's more about the people playing."

Burrow has taken it upon himself to expand the NFL's brand, and with the way international contests are becoming more frequent, his vision definitely aligns with the league's.

Cincinnati may not be the biggest national market, but Burrow is absolutely one of the game's biggest stars. Promoting him as a main attraction for a game in England, Germany, or Spain would absolutely draw the desired interest from fans in those markets.

Most of all, he wants this. That should be enough reason to give the Bengals a game overseas next year, or not too far in the future.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: