Bengals' Joe Burrow tops first-time MVP winners list

While the NFL schedule release dominates the conversation right now, the Cincinnati Bengals and fans were just happy to have Joe Burrow back on the field over the last week.

Burrow is, by the way, still a fixture of the MVP conversation.

Going into 2026, Burrow is a two-time Comeback Player of the Year winner who weighs heavily in any quarterback discussions right now.

Burrow is a heavy presence in all things NFL, really. Major free agents from rival teams want to join his team. His front office has crafted blockbuster trades for elite players like Dexter Lawrence who want to be on the same roster as him.

On that MVP front, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton is the first of likely many to put Burrow near the top of award projections, writing that the Bengals star is the No. 1 frontrunner amongst first-time MVP winners in 2026.

“Unlike Justin Herbert, Burrow has led the NFL in passing volume stat categories, a significant factor in MVP races,” Moton wrote. “So, he gets the top spot in the rankings.”

Burrow has stressed in the past that he’s more worried about team accomplishments than individual awards.

But for Burrow and the Bengals, if he’s in the running for the top individual honor, it probably means the team is on the hunt for a title, too.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' Joe Burrow tops first-time MVP winners list