For much of the past decade, Joe Burrow has been the cornerstone of the Cincinnati Bengals, leading the franchise through playoff runs and earning accolades for his production and leadership.
But as speculation about his future continues to bubble in the offseason, one of the fiercest competitors of his era has waded into the conversation with a bold, if unlikely, suggestion.
On a recent episode of his “Deebo & Joe” podcast, former linebacker James Harrison, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a Pittsburgh Steelers legend, revealed he’s been in regular contact with Burrow, attempting to persuade him to consider wearing the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’ve been conversing with him on here on a weekly, bi-weekly basis,” Harrison said. “I talked to him on the phone yesterday. We’ve been talking about him… he’s going to go up there, talk to Mr. Brown to see what he needs to do to get into black and gold.”
The comments instantly captured the attention of NFL fans and pundits, in part because of the sheer audacity of the pitch.
Harrison, who spent time with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals during his storied career, didn’t couch his remarks as mere hypotheticals. He framed them as part of an ongoing dialogue. But while his enthusiasm is clear, the practical barriers to such a move are immense.
A legendary suggestion meets a grounded response
Despite Harrison‘s spirited recruitment effort, another Pittsburgh Steelers icon offered a starkly different perspective. Ben Roethlisberger, the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers franchise quarterback, was asked about the notion when it came up on the same podcast.
His response was blunt and unvarnished: “Joe Burrow to the Pittsburgh Steelers? I would call that a pipe dream. I don’t think that’s a reality.”
Roethlisberger’s assessment underscores how unlikely a Burrow trade would be, especially between two AFC North rivals.
The Cincinnati Bengals have built around Burrow since selecting him first overall in the 2020 draft, and there’s been no indication from the organization that they are willing to part with their franchise signal-caller.
Fans and analysts alike have pointed out that Cincinnati Bengals‘ struggles, including missing the playoffs in recent seasons, fuel speculation, but the club’s commitment to Burrow appears firm.
Since Roethlisberger’s retirement, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for long-term stability at quarterback.
A series of starters has cycled through Pittsburgh Steelers without providing the kind of consistent play that keeps a team competitive in the AFC. That backdrop is part of what makes Harrison‘s comments so intriguing to some: he’s pitching not just a star player, but a franchise-altering one.
Yet even with that context, the logistics of a trade remain daunting. Rival teams rarely swap cornerstone players, and when they do, it typically involves complex negotiations and significant compensation.
Moreover, Burrow‘s status as one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, evidenced by his statistical achievements and leadership, makes him an asset few teams would willingly relinquish.