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The Cincinnati Bengals have resigned Joe Flacco to be Joe Burrow’s backup in 2026. However, Flacco believes he should still be a starter in the NFL.
“The 41-year-old quarterback has agreed to a one-year deal to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals, his agent, Joe Linta, told ESPN. Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler the contract is for $6 million but could be worth up to $9 million with incentives.” An ESPN article says.
Flacco began 2025 as the Cleveland Browns‘ starting quarterback. After four games, he was benched for Cleveland Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel. The Bengals acquired Joe Flacco via trade to replace a struggling Jake Browning. The Cincinnati Bengals sent the Browns a 2026 fifth-round pick for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Flacco has served as journeyman quarterback since 2018.
Joe Flacco Calls Teams ‘Dumb’ for Not Signing Him
Though Flacco has not had much success since 2018, he clearly believes in himself as a player. He threw a shot at the rest of the NFL when teams did not sign him to start in free agency.
“Believe me, I wish I was a guy somewhere. And I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy.” Flacco said in an ESPN article. “Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere, yeah, it pisses me off a little bit. But at the same time, I’m very happy to be here.”
Joe Flacco took over as the Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback when Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe injury.
“He made six starts in Burrow’s absence. In nine total appearances with the Bengals, Flacco completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. Playing with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, Flacco threw for a career-high 470 yards in a loss to the Chicago Bears.” An ESPN article says.
Though other veteran quarterbacks were signed this offseason, Flacco is keeping his head up when it comes to not being signed as a starter.
“I know enough not to get super tied up emotionally with certain things and how to think about how they might play out because you really have no idea,” Flacco said in the ESPN article. “And who knows what those teams were thinking anyway, whether I was on their radar or not. I have no idea.”
“It’s not really for me to decide. I think I can get caught up in all of that and say, ‘Why not me?’ and all that and be bitter about it.”
Joe Flacco Remains a Serviceable Backup for Joe Burrow
Though he will not likely be a starter in 2026, Joe Flacco will remain a veteran presence in the Bengals locker room.
“I don’t see this as the end,” Flacco said in the article. “That’s just not how I’m viewing it in my mind. I feel like I can help a team win. And yeah, it may be in a different role here, but I do still think I can help this team win in that role.”
Joe Flacco was named a replacement at this year’s Pro Bowl Games. The veteran quarterback was selected for the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 18 years in the NFL.
DeonTay Smith is a journalist who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with a focus on the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. A graduate from Methodist University, Smith also covers local news for the Panama City News Herald and hosts his own YouTube podcast. More about DeonTay Smith
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