After an 18th NFL season that felt more like a roller coaster than a retirement tour, Joe Flacco is once again staring down free agency. The 41-year-old quarterback, who opened 2025 as the Browns’ Week 1 starter and finished it stepping in for an injured Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, isn’t ruling out a 19th season-but he’s making it clear: it has to be the right fit.
“At this point, I don’t want to just sign up with anybody,” Flacco said. “I don’t want to just play football or be on the sideline for the sake of being out there.”
That’s not surprising coming from a player who’s done just about everything there is to do under center. Flacco’s not chasing a paycheck or padding a résumé. He’s looking for a situation where he can contribute meaningfully-ideally one where there’s at least a shot to compete for playing time.
He hasn’t closed the door on a return to Cincinnati, but he’s realistic about what that would mean. “I like the idea of Cincinnati, but, at the same time, you are resigning to something there,” Flacco said. “There’s a world where I could see that happening, but I have to see what’s out there.”
That kind of measured thinking has defined the back half of Flacco’s career. Since being drafted in the first round by the Ravens in 2008, Flacco has seen just about every side of the NFL quarterback experience-from Super Bowl MVP to backup duty, from franchise cornerstone to midseason injury replacement.
After 11 seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens traded him to Denver in 2019 for a fourth-round pick. At the time, Flacco was in the fourth year of a six-year, $125 million contract that included $44 million guaranteed. He was due to make $20.25 million in 2020 before the Broncos released him with a failed physical designation.
From there, Flacco’s career entered a journeyman phase-but one that’s been surprisingly productive. He signed with the Jets in 2020 on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, then landed with the Eagles in 2021 before being traded back to New York for a conditional sixth-rounder. He re-signed with the Jets in 2022, then joined the Browns midseason in 2023 and sparked a playoff run that reminded everyone he still had something left in the tank.
That late-career resurgence earned him a deal with the Colts in 2024, and then a return to Cleveland on a one-year contract. But before Week 6 of the 2025 season, he was traded to the Bengals-setting up another unexpected chapter in an already winding career.
In total, Flacco played in 13 games for the Browns and Bengals in 2025, completing 60.3% of his passes for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Solid, steady numbers for a quarterback who’s been asked to do a little bit of everything over the past few seasons-mentor, starter, backup, closer.
Now, the question is whether there’s one more stop left on his NFL journey. Flacco’s not chasing nostalgia, and he’s not looking to hold a clipboard just to be around the game. If he suits up in 2026, it’ll be because there’s a real opportunity to contribute.
And if the right team comes calling, don’t be surprised if Joe Flacco answers. He’s shown time and again that when given the chance, he can still deliver.