At 30, Orlando Brown Jr. is already fielding retirement questions. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals in March 2023. Since then, the star offensive tackle has done a great job protecting quarterback Joe Burrow. While there are talks about his retirement, he gave a clear stance on hanging up his boots.

Brown Jr. recently signed a brand-new, two-year contract extension worth $32 million. Yet, because of his age, fans and analysts are starting to talk about his eventual retirement. Brown Jr. decided to address these rumors during the July 9 episode of The Sitdown with Malik Wright podcast. 

"I love being here, and I'm gonna retire a Bengal when I'm done with the sport," Brown Jr. said during his appearance on the podcast. "Or whenever the Bengals are done with me." 

So, Brown, in The Sitdown with Malik Wright podcast, made it very clear that he wants Cincinnati to be his final home in the NFL. 

This commitment is a big win for the Bengals, who are working hard to build a lasting championship team around Burrow. Brown Jr. is a highly respected locker room leader who previously played for other great NFL franchises like the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Orlando Brown Jr. has started 45 games at left tackle for the Bengals since 2023. He anchored the line for 17 games in 2025, playing an NFL-high 733 pass-blocking snaps.

Age 30 is considered to be a sensitive age for offensive tackles. This season, back in March, offensive tackle Yosh Nijman announced his retirement at the same age.

Health has been an ongoing concern over the past several seasons for Brown Jr. After missing seven games in 2023, he was sidelined for nine games last season following a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2.

Making his stance clear on his retirement, Brown Jr. is confident that the team will yield better results this upcoming season, owing to the offensive and defensive changes that the team has brought.

Browns Jr. makes bold statement after Joe Burrow on Cincinnati’s offensive line

Brown Jr. made a big statement about the Cincinnati Bengals on the July 10 episode of the Locked On Bengals podcast. The star offensive tackle confidently claimed that his team boasts the top pass-blocking group in the entire league, despite their recent struggles.

“I really think — and I say this confidently — I really feel like we got the best pass protection unit in the NFL,” Brown said. “There isn’t a lot of groups that could come do what we do on a week-to-week basis and have the success that we’ve had, especially with the circumstances.”

The team definitely has a lot to prove after finishing near the bottom of the league in pass protection metrics last year. With all five players of the offensive line returning from last year, the players' confidence seems valid.

However, injuries forced the blocking unit to protect three different quarterbacks last season: Joe Burrow, Jake Browning, and Joe Flacco. This constant change made it very hard to build chemistry last season.

Fans will have to wait until training camp ends to see the official lineup and if the team can overcome its weakness.

What are your thoughts on Brown Jr.'s wish to retire as a Bengal? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar