Joe Burrow Joe Flacco Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns
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Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns.
The Cincinnati Bengals had their 2025 NFL season derailed in the worst way in Week 2, with superstar quarterback Joe Burrow going down with a toe injury that would cost him at least three months until he can get back on the field. The team thought they had a viable backup in Jake Browning, but that didn’t turn out as they anticipated, with the offense falling flat without Burrow under center.
With the team taking a massive step back offensively with Browning running the show, the Bengals decided to make a move ahead of the NFL trade deadline to bring in another veteran quarterback. Cincinnati acquired 40-year-old Joe Flacco from the division rival Cleveland Browns, adding an experienced veteran who has proven his worth throughout his NFL career.
Although Flacco does seem to have something left in the tank, many have wondered why he’s still playing at his age, especially considering all that he’s accomplished and all the money he’s made during his time in the league up to this point.
Joe Flacco Reveals Why He’s Still Playing in the NFL
Joe Flacco Cleveland Browns
GettyJoe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns.
Ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, Flacco spoke to the media for the first time as a member of the Bengals and the team’s new starting quarterback until Burrow returns.
He was asked about why he continues to play at an advanced age and gave a pretty straightforward answer.
“I just feel like I have a lot to offer to a football team,” Flacco said. “I’ve put in a lot of work my whole life to get to this point, just in terms of playing in the NFL in general. I hopefully will have a long life when I’m done, but you only get a chance to play in the NFL once.
“I feel like I’ve worked really hard to be a guy that gets to play in the NFL, and I don’t want to take that for granted. I still feel like I can play the game at a high level, and I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror when I’m 50 years old and be able to say that I gave it everything I had.”
Clearly, Flacco doesn’t want to give up playing if he doesn’t have to, and he still believes he can provide value to a team like the Bengals in the twilight of his NFL career.
Joe Flacco to Make His First Start for Bengals in Week 6
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn’t waste any time deciding who would be the starting quarterback under center on the road against the Packers. Browning will head back to the bench while Flacco has been tabbed with leading the way on Sunday.
In four games as the starting quarterback for the Browns before being benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, Flacco threw for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions with a completion percentage of 58.1.
Obviously, those aren’t numbers and don’t seem like an upgrade over Browning. However, Flacco might have more luck in Cincinnati, with weapons like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal downfield.