On the latest episode of the Deebo and Joe podcast, hosted by former Pittsburgh Steelers greats James Harrison and Joe Haden, Ben Roethlisberger joined the conversation. The legendary quarterback touched on a wide range of topics surrounding the Steelers.
One notable takeaway from the discussion was that Harrison claims he has been actively speaking with Joe Burrow to lure the Bengals quarterback across enemy lines.
That would be an insane trade for Cincinnati to even consider, and the Steelers are an unlikely landing spot if the Bengals ever moved Burrow. Harrison claims he continues to try to poach the star signal caller for the AFC North foe in an attempt to put Pittsburgh in a perfect spot to compete for a Super Bowl.
This outcome remains highly unlikely, but Harrison is not backing down.
"I have been conversing with him on here [the podcast] on a weekly, bi-weekly basis. I talked to him on the phone yesterday." Harrison continued, "I've been talking to him about going to talk to Mr. Brown [Bengals owner] to see what he needs to do to whatever he needs to do to get into some black and gold."
Is Harrison serious about speaking to Burrow? The world may never know. He could just be trolling, but he has mentioned this recruitment on Twitter, actively tagging Burrow in posts.
While the former star linebacker for the Steelers appears eager about this plan, both Haden and Roethlisberger were amused by the idea. Neither of them believes Burrow could join the black and gold anytime soon.
James Harrison's recruitment of QB Joe Burrow to the Pittsburgh Steelers will never happen
Burrow would be an excellent fit for the franchise, as he is already accustomed to the rigors of the AFC North and has enjoyed significant success at the NFL level.
However, his ongoing injury issues have taken a toll on his career, and Cincinnati’s lack of postseason success since its Super Bowl appearance four years ago has made that run feel increasingly distant. This is not the first time trade rumors have surfaced around the Bengals’ star quarterback.
Roethlisberger offered the most grounded perspective on Harrison’s recruitment efforts. When asked about the possibility of Burrow joining the Steelers, the all-time great Pittsburgh quarterback nearly chuckled. It is difficult to envision any realistic scenario in which such a move could happen. No matter how persistent Harrison may be, Big Ben does not see this trade becoming a reality.
"Joe Burrow going to the Steelers? I would call that a pipe dream. I don't think that's a reality," said Roethlisberger.
The likelihood of Burrow ever being traded is already slim, and the idea of him landing in Pittsburgh makes it even less plausible. There is virtually no scenario in which the Bengals would move their franchise quarterback, especially to a division rival. Even if the Steelers were willing to offer an enormous package in return, such a deal would make little sense for Cincinnati to pursue.
It is entertaining to see a legendary figure from the franchise attempting to address the Steelers’ long-term quarterback dilemma.
While adding Burrow would, in theory, solve that issue if he could stay healthy, that outcome remains uncertain. Much of his frustration in Cincinnati has stemmed from the organization’s inability to consistently build around him, which could eventually push him to consider a change.
Even if that moment arrives, however, Pittsburgh should not be viewed as a realistic destination.