Drawing comparisons to his legendary LSU championship run, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed confidence in his team ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Joe Burrow has spent this offseason watching the Cincinnati Bengals improve nearly every part of the roster. The front office has earned praise from around the league, including from Burrow himself, who recently dubbed Cincinnati’s current unit “the most talented team” of his professional career.
Burrow addressed the media again Wednesday, a day later than originally scheduled after remaining on the practice field following Tuesday’s minicamp session and missing his availability window before a team meeting. When he finally stepped to the podium, he delivered one of the strongest endorsements yet of the team’s outlook entering 2026.
“I want everyone talking about the Bengals. I want everyone talking about what I’m saying in my press conferences,” Burrow said. “You go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU, you know I feel very similarly about this team. I’m so excited to get started and get moving. I wish we would ramp this right into training camp so we can continue to improve. Because I feel like there’s so much greatness that we’re gonna be able to achieve this year. I’m just excited to get going” (h/t Mike Petraglia of CLNS Cincy).
At LSU, Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns in 2019 while completing 76.3% of his passes. He also won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to an undefeated national championship. It remains one of the most dominant seasons by a quarterback in college football history and by referencing that year, Burrow made it clear that his expectations for the Bengals are exceptionally high.
He expanded on why he believes this roster is capable of reaching that level.
“I feel that way about this team,” Burrow said. “We have guys that have been there and done that. And also guys that have had a lot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that are looking for it. Guys like Dexter and guys like Jonathan. Bringing guys like that in is so advantageous to a lot of different people; young players trying to improve, it makes it easier for coaches. And we have so many guys with so much talent. I’m just excited to put it all together.”
Whether this Bengals roster can produce the kind of season Burrow experienced at LSU remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the franchise quarterback is approaching 2026 with complete confidence. After three straight seasons without a playoff appearance, Burrow is not tempering expectations. He believes the pieces are in place and this team has what it takes to go all the way.
