“What Else Would I Do?” – Joe Burrow, 29, Isn’t Remotely Thinking About Early Retirement
Joe Burrow wants to play in the NFL as long as he can.
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Joe Burrow (Image via IMAGO)
Joe Burrow is entering his seventh year in the NFL as the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback. Burrow played in the Super Bowl in 2021. He has won multiple Comeback Player of the Year awards and 3 Pro Bowl selections. In 2024, he led the league in pass completions (460), passing yards (4918), and touchdowns (43).
Burrow, 29, still has many more years ahead of him. These days, quarterbacks tend to play deep into their 40s. Aaron Rodgers is still playing at the ripe old age of 42.
Before entering the league, Burrow had planned to retire early. But he no longer thinks like that. He wants to continue playing football as long as he can.
I used to think I didn’t want to play very long, and now I’m like, I’m just going to go until I can’t do it anymore. This is fun to do. What the hell else would I do?
Joe Burrow told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated
Burrow played five seasons of college football. In his final year, he threw for 5671 yards, 60 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions to win the league’s best player award. He led the LSU Tigers to an unbeaten championship triumph.
The Bengals drafted him first overall in 2020. Currently, he sits at a 43-33-1 regular-season record. He holds the league’s best completion percentage (68.5). He has a 5-2 postseason record.
Cincinnati last appeared in the playoffs back in 2022. They haven’t played January football in the last three years. Burrow missed 16 games during that time. In 2023, an injury to his throwing arm forced him to miss six games. Last year, he suffered a turf toe injury.
But when he’s healthy, Burrow has showcased his elite ball knowledge. He had the best numbers of any quarterback in 2024.
[In] two out of the last three seasons, I’ve missed extended time. I’ve put a lot of work into this. When that happens, that sucks, quite frankly. So, I’m just excited to play. When you’re hurt, you’re away from the team, you’re away from the guys. You’re not going through it like they are. It’s a lonely process. I’m just excited to be out there.
Burrow told Breer
Burrow played in the first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Zac Taylor took his starter off after the Lions pass rush recorded a sack on him. Burrow had 5 of 6 completions for 39 yards. Cincinnati lost. But they won the remaining two friendly games against the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Joe Burrow makes his Super Bowl aspirations clear
In the 2021-22 season, the Bengals won the AFC North by posting a 10-4 record. They defeated the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs to qualify for the Super Bowl.
In the final game, they faced the Los Angeles Rams. Burrow threw for 22 completions, 263 yards, and one touchdown. LA emerged victorious by just three points.
The Bengals haven’t been back ever since. Burrow wants to taste the same success again and is very forthright about his goals.
Everybody says they want to win the Super Bowl; you talk about it every day, you set that expectation every day, you go and work for it every single day. I mean, I don’t know the answer to that for everybody, but that’s what I want to do, that’s what I’m trying to do, that’s what I do this for.
Burrow said
In 2023, Burrow signed a $55 million/year extension. Two years later, the Bengals tied down both wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contracts. In the offseason, the Bengals traded for All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, signed Super Bowl-winning edge Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year contract, and signed safety Bryan Cook to a three-year contract worth more than $40 million.
A few weeks back, Burrow acknowledged that the current Bengals roster is the best since he joined the team. The Bengals kick off the 2026 NFL campaign by hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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