Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow have consistently been regarded as the NFL’s ‘Big 4’ for the recent five years. Among them, Joe Burrow is the sole player yet to secure an NFL MVP award. Determined to change this, he is setting high targets for the upcoming season.
Burrow, the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, featured recently in GQ’s ’10 Essentials’ series. Naturally, he included a football among his essentials. ‘It has brought me many good fortunes in life,’ he stated. He emphasized his skills, saying, ‘I can throw it very accurately. Kind of far, not as far as most.’ Notably, he keeps a football in his car all the time.
When questioned about his goals for the 2026 NFL season, Burrow was clear. ‘I have all the goals for this season. MVP, Super Bowl, win a lot of games, and have fun,’ he declared.
Burrow brought the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI in his second year, although they were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams. The Bengals also reached the AFC Championship Game the following season but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, the playoffs have been out of reach, partly due to Burrow’s injuries and a weak defense.
In the 2023 season, Burrow missed seven games because of a wrist ligament tear requiring surgery. A bounce-back in the 2024 season saw him lead the league with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, yet the Bengals finished 9-8, narrowly missing the playoffs. Last year, Burrow was sidelined for nine games due to severe turf toe, ending with a 6-11 record.
Last December, Burrow candidly discussed how his injuries impacted him at a press conference. ‘It certainly doesn’t change my desire to win,’ he remarked. He highlighted the importance of enjoyment, saying, ‘If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it.’ This shift in mindset is significant for his upcoming season.
Burrow’s recent interaction with GQ suggests he is now in better spirits. For the full video, watch below.