The Cincinnati Bengals are keeping their eyes on a familiar face - veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. After stepping in admirably for the injured Joe Burrow last season, Flacco is still on the Bengals' radar. This interest follows the recent signing of another seasoned quarterback, Josh Johnson.
According to Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson, the Bengals are keen on Flacco as the NFL’s quarterback shuffle starts to settle down.
Flacco joined Cincinnati after a trade with the Browns in Week 5. While Jake Browning struggled in Burrow's absence, Flacco, despite being benched in Cleveland after starting Week 1, found his stride with the Bengals.
In six starts, he threw for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Yet, the Bengals managed just a 1-5 record in those games, largely due to defensive woes.
Now a free agent, Flacco is exploring potential starting gigs across the league, though Cincinnati remains interested in having him back as Burrow’s backup. Meanwhile, Browning has moved on to Tampa Bay, signing with them in the first week of 2026 free agency.
Cincinnati's surprise move to sign Johnson, who has been bouncing around the league since 2008 and previously backed up Andy Dalton in 2013, adds another layer to their quarterback strategy.
A potential Flacco reunion could unfold soon or linger until after the draft, depending on how the quarterback landscape shapes up. Despite the tough record last year, Flacco offered stability and leadership, providing a spark that was missing during Browning’s starts. Once an AFC North adversary, Flacco has won over Bengals fans, and if not for a few defensive lapses, last season might have ended differently for Cincinnati.