Joe Flacco Named to 2026 Pro Bowl Games, Raising Eyebrows and Sparking Nostalgia
The NFL’s Pro Bowl Games have always been a bit of a mixed bag-part honor, part spectacle. But in 2026, the league’s annual all-star showcase has taken a turn that’s left fans scratching their heads, especially when it comes to the quarterback selections.
And at the center of that conversation? A familiar name with an unexpected twist: Joe Flacco.
Yes, that Joe Flacco. The 41-year-old veteran, who once hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with the Ravens back in 2012, is now a Pro Bowler for the first time in his 18-year career.
Not when he led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title. Not in any of his productive early years.
But now-in 2026-as a backup in Cincinnati, after a midseason trade from a struggling Cleveland Browns team.
Let’s unpack how we got here.
A Pro Bowl in Name Only?
First, it’s important to understand what the Pro Bowl is now. Gone are the days of a full-contact exhibition game between the AFC and NFC.
In its place: a series of skills competitions, flag football, and a weekend that feels more like a reality show than a football game. The stakes are low, the hits are nonexistent, and the selections?
Well, they’re not always based on recent performance.
This year, quarterback depth in the AFC took a major hit. Buffalo’s Josh Allen underwent foot surgery after the season, and New England’s Drake Maye is gearing up for the Super Bowl. That left the door open for replacements-and that’s where things got interesting.
The Sanders Situation
First up was Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback from the Cleveland Browns. Sanders started just seven games this season, throwing seven touchdown passes against 10 interceptions.
His passer rating? A rough 68.1-ranking 41st in the league.
Statistically, it’s hard to justify his inclusion, but the buzz around his name, and the presence of his father, Deion Sanders, in the NFL spotlight, certainly played a role in the decision.
Sanders' selection feels less like a reward for performance and more like a nod to marketability. And while the Pro Bowl has always had a bit of a popularity contest element to it, this one raised eyebrows.
Enter: Joe Flacco
Then came Flacco. His 2025 campaign wasn’t flashy, but it was steady.
He started 10 games between Cleveland and Cincinnati, throwing 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He wasn’t dominant, but he was competent-especially for a quarterback who began the year as a backup and ended it as a stabilizing presence in a chaotic Browns season before moving to the Bengals.
In terms of pure numbers, Flacco’s year doesn’t scream “Pro Bowl.” But this selection feels like something else entirely: a career achievement award.
Flacco has thrown for 48,712 yards and 272 touchdowns over his career. He’s played in big games, won on the biggest stage, and carved out a reputation as a durable, dependable presence under center.
And yet, until now, he’d never been named to a Pro Bowl. Not once.
So while the timing is odd, the sentiment isn’t misplaced. If this is indeed the final chapter in Flacco’s long NFL journey, there’s something fitting about him riding off into the sunset with a Pro Bowl nod-however unconventional the path may have been.
A Browns Twist
Adding another layer to the story: both Flacco and Sanders began the 2025 season with the Browns, a team that finished 5-12. In total, four players from that Cleveland squad made the Pro Bowl Games-more than the 8-9 Colts managed to send.
It’s a quirky stat, but one that speaks to the unpredictable nature of the Pro Bowl selection process, especially in this new era of flag football and fan engagement.
Final Thoughts
Joe Flacco’s Pro Bowl selection won’t change his Hall of Fame candidacy-he’s likely on the outside looking in there-but it does give a respected veteran a moment of recognition that, frankly, feels overdue. He may not have lit up the stat sheet in 2025, but his body of work over nearly two decades speaks for itself.
And if this is his swan song? Well, there are worse ways to go out than as a Pro Bowler-even in the Pro Bowl Games era.