‘You Hurt Every Year’ — Super Bowl Champion Puts Joe Burrow on Notice After Bengals’ 2–2 Start

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‘You Hurt Every Year’ — Super Bowl Champion Puts Joe Burrow on Notice After Bengals’ 2–2 Start

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 4 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The Bengals fell to 2-2 on the season with a 22-17 loss at home.

Andrew Buller-Russ · Pro Football Network

Fri, Oct 9, 2026 ·

3 min read

T.J. Ward Makes Opinion Clear on Joe Burrow

This week, Super Bowl-winning safety T.J. Ward appeared on the " Speakeasy" podcast , where he had some critical remarks for Burrow.

But first, it started with taking back some negative comments he made about Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

"A couple nights ago, I said Zac Taylor was on the hot seat, or should be, just because of what has transpired since they went to the Super Bowl," Ward said. "AFC Championship loss the next year, and then they just declined. But I have to give him more credit than that.

"Because in my declining years, my quarterback continues to get hurt. Where is my quarterback? We know this is a quarterback-driven league, and you need your quarterback, especially your first-round, Heisman-winning, all-league quarterback."

As great as Burrow has been, durability has become one of the few legitimate knocks against him. He missed significant time in three of his first six NFL seasons, including nine games in 2025. Burrow has started each of Cincinnati's first four games this season, and staying healthy will be crucial if the Bengals are going to make another postseason run.

"No matter what your college accolades are, doesn't matter what you did in your first two years, first three years in the NFL; what have you done for me lately? Lately, you're hurt every year! You [expletive] with my money," Ward remarked.

Ultimately, Ward believes Taylor could be getting a bit irritated with how Burrow keeps getting hurt, and he used the Bengals QB's off-the-field profile to knock him down.

"If I was Zac Taylor, I'd be like, come here, 'All these fashion shows, [expletive] you're going to across the pond, your nice little Cartier glasses, minks and [expletive] I need you to be healthy and play football," Ward explained.

"Come on, Joe! You finna cost me my job! Help me! All I know is every time Joe is down, the season is lost. He had them in a Super Bowl. He had them in the AFC Championship. I'm the coach; I can't play quarterback too."

Ward raises some good overall points, but like his fellow podcaster T.J. Houshmandzadeh pointed out, Taylor would likely never be so bold and brash, especially when it comes to someone of Burrow's stature.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .