NFL fans know Joe Burrow as a true franchise quarterback, one of those few elite players who can elevate an entire team and instantly make it a contender. However, despite Burrow’s presence, the Cincinnati Bengals have not made the playoffs in three seasons.
The feat didn’t go unnoticed by Burrow, who advocated for “change” within the organization on Wednesday, according to ESPN.
“We don’t want to be in the position we’re in now, so something has to change,” Burrow said Wednesday. “Whether it’s us continuing to improve players and get better and play championship-level football or bring in willing players or whatever. Obviously, something has to happen. [change]”.
This marks another surprising statement from the 29-year-old Burrow in the past few weeks. With the Bengals going through their worst season since 2020, Burrow has been vocal about his enjoyment of the game and admitted that he is not considered a Bengals player going forward.
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Burrow focused his “change” comments on the players, saying either the team’s existing players need to take a step forward or the team needs to bring in championship-caliber talent to help the team get back to the playoffs.
While Burrow didn’t mention a coaching or front office upheaval, there may be some Bengals fans who believe this could be the necessary “change” to push the Bengals back into contention. The Bengals have been criticized for a slow start under Zac Taylor. Although Taylor led the team to the Super Bowl in his third season, the fact that Taylor failed to lead Burrow’s team to the playoffs three consecutive years is concerning.
However, Burrow isn’t completely blameless for his team’s failure to make the playoffs the past three seasons. When healthy, Burrow is undoubtedly an elite quarterback. But various injuries prevented him from leading the Bengals to glory. Burrow missed seven games in 2023 with a wrist issue and nine games this season with a toe injury. Those two injuries essentially dented the team’s chances in those seasons.
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Keeping Burrow healthy and upright will go a long way toward the Bengals’ return to the Super Bowl over the next few seasons. The front office was criticized for not doing enough to strengthen the offensive line last offseason. Those criticisms were immediately validated after Burrow went down with an injury in Week 2.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that Burrow is advocating for change. If Burrow can avoid taking a big hit, he’s capable of leading the Bengals to a championship. But if the Bengals continue to accept the status quo — as they did last offseason — Burrow’s remaining time in Cincinnati could end in bitter disappointment.