The Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs at 9-8 despite franchise quarterback Joe Burrow leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns in 2024, but 2025 was even worse. The former LSU Tiger missed nine games due to turf toe and the team finished 30th with 28.9 points allowed per game, resulting in a 6-11 record.

Burrow expressed sadness and uncertainty about the future in a couple of press conferences, prompting ESPN to ask him during Tuesday's Pro Bowl if he's happy in Cincinnati.

"Yeah, I am," the 29-year-old said. " I think everybody has bad days, right? Everybody has bad days. Sometimes they fall on press conference days. So that's how it goes sometimes."

Burrow admitted that he wants to focus on having fun playing football in December, via ESPN's Ben Baby. 

"If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it," the two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year said. "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."

2025 was Burrow's third injury-shortened season since the Bengals drafted him first overall in 2020. Combine that with the fact that they haven't been to the playoffs since 2022, and it's no wonder that he was having "bad days."

However, Burrow still has plenty to look forward to. Both he and superstar receiver Ja'Marr Chase are signed through 2029, while fellow star wideout Tee Higgins is signed through 2028. That gives Cincinnati a reliable baseline of offensive talent as it looks to improve the defense this offseason, one in which it has the No. 10 overall draft pick.

Burrow might like to forget the 2025 season, but he still produced in a limited sample size. The Ohio native logged 1,809 passing yards on a 66.8 percent completion rate with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions over eight games. He ranked 24th in touchdown tosses despite the missed time.

Even casual football fans know that Burrow is one of the best, but it's still important for a player's confidence to play well through adversity. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder is still as effective as he's ever been, but he needs to stay healthy. 

Taking fewer sacks would help. Burrow has taken 213 over 77 career games, which is about 2.7 per contest. If he can get the ball out quickly behind a competent offensive line while being supported by at least a league-average defense next season, then Cincinnati could go places. That's a lot of ifs, but the front office must be aggressive with such a talented offensive trio in the building.