Joe Burrow’s future in getting new attention.

Joe Burrow got some NFL talk this week without meaning to. The Bengals quarterback opened up about how tough this season has been, and fans quickly wondered if he might want a fresh start somewhere else. Burrow said he wants to enjoy playing football again, and many took that as a hint about his future.

He has played only four games because of a turf toe injury. In Week 14 against the Bills, he threw four touchdowns and two interceptions, but those late mistakes hurt Cincinnati’s playoff chances.

He spoke with reporters on Wednesday, and the season has drained him. “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it, you know, I’ve been through a lot and if it’s not fun then what am I doing it for? So, that’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table” Burrow said.

When asked if that applies to football or his personal life, he said, “All of the above.”

His words now point to some trade speculation. Analysts spent days listing possible teams. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky mentioned the Raiders, Jets, and Steelers as franchises that should at least ask about Burrow.

49ers Enter The Joe Burrow Conversation

Joe Burrow speaking to the reporters (Photo Via X)
Another team entered the conversation on Thursday. Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as a surprising fit during an interview on 95.7 The Game. Warner said he likes Brock Purdy but still believes Burrow is the better quarterback.

“That’s a tough question, You know I love Brock Purdy and I think Brock’s really good, but I also do believe Joe is better than Brock is and brings more to the table,” Warner said.

He added, “If that were the case you’d probably have 28 teams in the league that would say Joe Burrow would be an upgrade at the quarterback spot. That’s not a knock any of these other guys. It’s just Joe is one of the special ones.”

The idea shocked some fans, but it shows how rare Burrow’s talent is. When healthy, he performs at an MVP level. Last year he completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 4,918 yards with 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Bengals are not expected to trade him. Burrow is still their franchise quarterback. But teams will still make calls. They want to see if there’s even the slightest chance to get a player who can transform their future.

Burrow just turned 29 this year. He knows he wants joy in his career again. The Bengals know they need him if they want to stay in the hunt. The next few months should bring clarity.