Why Success for the Bengals in 2026 Feels ‘Inevitable’ for Joe Burrow
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow draws parallels between his current team's atmosphere and his undefeated 2019 LSU championship season. He expresses a strong sense of confidence regarding the team's potential for success in 2026.
Why it matters
High-profile athlete sentiment often influences fan expectations and sports media narratives regarding team performance.
Joe Burrow remembers the feeling he had in the summer of 2019.
He’d had a good first year starting at LSU—after transferring from Ohio State—and was projected to be a mid-round pick in the April 2020 NFL draft. Justin Jefferson had emerged in 2018 as a true No. 1 receiver, but Ja’Marr Chase’s freshman production had been modest. The Tigers were bringing back seven starters on offense and eight on defense.
To outsiders, that was enough for measured optimism. But inside the facility, Burrow felt something different.
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