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No Credible Sources Saying Joe Burrow Leaving Bengals

Originally posted on Trade Talk Sports | Last updated Feb 28, 2026 1:54 PM ET

There’s no credible indication that Joe Burrow is actually leaving the Cincinnati Bengals, despite a recent report that quotes an NFL executive suggesting there will be some action in that regard. According to a report, “I could see him angling to get out of there,” that executive said about Burrow. “I kind of expect it. That’s a tough place to win, and he really wants to win.”

However, as of late February 2026, Burrow remains firmly the franchise’s QB, under contract through 2029 (with a massive cap hit starting around $48M in 2026). To boot, the team has repeatedly shut down trade speculation.

Where Did This Burrow Rumor Stem From?

The Bengals finished 2025 at 6-11, missing the playoffs for the third straight year, largely due to Burrow’s turf-toe injury. It limited him to eight games.

In December 2025, Burrow explicitly said he “can’t see” a world in which he’s not with the Bengals in 2026, though he noted he thinks about “a lot of things” regarding his long-term future. That seems to be all it took for fans and analysts to run with the narrative he was hinting at a possible change.

However, despite the growing chatter, teammates like Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown, as well as insiders like Dianna Russini, have dismissed trade rumors as overblown media hype. The Bengals have no plans to move him, and they’re focused on supporting him.

Could things change? Perhaps. Jason La Canfora reported league chatter that Burrow might push for a trade if the roster/coaching staff doesn’t improve. However, he emphasized there’s no indication it’ll happen this offseason.

Burrow isn’t going anywhere soon. The Bengals are in “prove it” mode this offseason: big spending, better defense, and continuity for their star QB. If they flop again in 2026, the whispers could get louder, but as of now, it’s rumor mill noise, not reality.

This article first appeared on Trade Talk Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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