Flacco, who turned 40 in January, was the NFL’s second-oldest quarterback last season, trailing only Aaron Rodgers, who turned 41 in December. Flacco spent the year with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was brought in to both mentor and push second-year player Anthony Richardson, a player 17 years his junior. Flacco ended up playing in eight games, starting six, and compiling a 2–4 record. He had 12 passing touchdowns, versus seven interceptions, and completed 65.3 percent of his attempts.
However, it was in the 2023 season with Cleveland that Flacco became a bit of a cult hero. He went unsigned through the first half of the season before joining the Browns’ practice squad in November. He would make his season debut in Week 13—as one of five starting quarterbacks for the Browns that season—and Flacco proved to be the best of the bunch. He went 4–1 as a starter in the regular season, had three straight games with over 300 passing yards for the first time in his career, and helped the Browns clinch a playoff berth.
Flacco also made a bit of history as he became the first player, ever, to have 250 passing yards in each of his first five games with a franchise. He finished the season with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, before the Browns fell in the Wild Card Round to the Houston Texans, 45–14. For his journey from being on his couch to a playoff starter, Flacco was named the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
While Flacco expressed interest in wanting to return to the Browns in 2024, the team had more faith in Deshaun Watson and his ability to both stay healthy and be productive. Thus, Cleveland didn’t re-sign Flacco, paving his way to Indianapolis, while the Browns went with veteran Jameis Winston as Watson’s backup.
The move proved to be disastrous for Cleveland in multiple ways. Not only did Watson perform well below the team’s expectations of him, but he also couldn’t stay upright. Watson’s QBR of 23.4 was the worst amongst the 43 quarterbacks with at least 150 pass attempts last season, while he had the highest sack rate (13.3 percent) amongst those QBs. He then tore his Achilles’ tendon in Week 7, which prematurely ended his season, and then he re-tore it in January 2025, potentially knocking him out of the entire upcoming season.
Winston was a bit better than Watson, but not much better as Flacco’s replacement as Cleveland’s No. 2 QB. Winston tied for fourth in interceptions (12) last season, despite ranking 29th in pass attempts. The Heisman winner and former No. 1 overall pick signed with the New York Giants this offseason, creating another void in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback depth chart.
Outside of Watson, the only other quarterback on Cleveland’s roster was former first-round pick Kenny Pickett. He’s well-acquainted with Cleveland, having begun his career with the divisional rival, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Pickett started one game as a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Flacco is entering the 18th season of his NFL career, which has spanned five franchises. He’s best known for his 11 years with the Baltimore Ravens, winning the Super Bowl in the 2012 season and being named Super Bowl XLVII MVP. Flacco also spent the 2019 season with the Denver Broncos, then joined the New York Jets (2020–22) before heading to Cleveland in 2023 and Indy in 2024.
At this later stage of his career, Flacco’s presence on a team has always coincided with that franchise having a young quarterback to learn from a Super Bowl MVP. His last season in Baltimore was also Lamar Jackson’s first season with the Ravens, and then when Flacco went to Denver the next year, the Broncos drafted Drew Lock in the second round.
Now back in Cleveland, Flacco could face a similar situation as has been par for the last few years, as the Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Team owner Jimmy Haslam recently said the franchise “took a big swing and miss” in regard to Watson, so Cleveland could take another swing by grabbing a quarterback second overall. Flacco was well aware of that before signing with the Browns, and while what Cleveland may get out of a rookie QB is unknown, it has comfort in the experience Flacco can provide.
