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Joe Flacco may be 41 years old, but he still believes he has a lot left in the tank.
The Super Bowl XLVII champion signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals to be Joe Burrow’s backup, but he wants much more than that.
“Not being one of those guys that’s going to sign somewhere, yeah, it bothers me a little bit,” Flacco said.
Joe Flacco of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
He then added a parting shot to almost every team in the league.
“And believe me, I wish I was that guy somewhere, and I think teams are dumb for not letting me be that guy,” he said.
Flacco started last season for the Cleveland Browns and was their Week 1 quarterback, but with two rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders on the wings, the writing was on the wall.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on December 7, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
Cleveland traded him to Cincinnati after Burrow suffered a serious toe injury and he found some success. Flacco played well despite going 1-5 as a starter for the Bengals. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
But with his success, despite his desire to be a starter, he is a good consolation prize.
“I feel like I have unfinished business. That’s part of why I’m here and still playing and doing all those things…” he said. “I had a lot of fun with Joe, and Joe is the guy.”
Flacco, who was Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2012 season, has played for the Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Jets again, Browns, Colts, Browns again and the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium on Nov. 2, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Image Images)
He has thrown for 48,176 yards, 272 touchdowns and 172 interceptions in 19 seasons. He is 10-6 in the playoffs with 3,530 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
