While many NFL teams view international games as a hassle due to travel and scheduling disruptions, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sees them as an opportunity—and wishes his team could take part. This week at minicamp, Burrow voiced two key frustrations with the NFL’s scheduling decisions: his team’s absence from overseas games and the repetitive primetime matchups against the Baltimore Ravens.
Only 13 teams will participate in international contests this season, with the Minnesota Vikings even staying in the U.K. for two consecutive weeks. The Bengals, however, have never been selected for one of these games, and Burrow has yet to play abroad during his professional career.
Burrow told reporters he’s eager to promote the sport internationally and wants to be part of its global growth. At the same time, he criticized the league for placing Cincinnati in a primetime game in Baltimore for the fourth straight season.
“Playing in Baltimore again in primetime isn’t ideal. Maybe give Cincinnati a home game next time,” Burrow said. “An international game would be nice, too.”
He mentioned his participation in Netflix’s Quarterback series as a way to build both his own brand and the NFL’s global presence. But without the chance to play internationally, he feels his efforts haven’t been fully matched on the field.
“It’s a bit frustrating not to have that kind of platform,” Burrow said. “I’ve made a point over the past year and a half to support international growth, so I hope I get a chance to actually play overseas soon.”
This season, the Bengals will once again head to Baltimore—this time for a high-stakes Thanksgiving primetime game that could heavily impact the AFC North standings. Last year, Cincinnati appeared in six primetime games, but only one was at home. Their close loss in Baltimore on Thursday Night Football still stings.
Despite his talent and leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl in 2022, Burrow seems to recognize that Cincinnati isn’t treated like a top-tier franchise. Injuries and inconsistent defense have kept the team out of the spotlight, but he continues to try. Beyond his Netflix appearance, he also took a promotional tour in Europe last summer.
Now, Burrow is calling on the NFL to acknowledge both his on-field success and off-field efforts by giving the Bengals a bigger platform.
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