The Cleveland Browns stunned the division by trading Week 1 starter Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, a move that left Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin openly baffled. Tomlin called the deal “shocking,” saying he couldn’t make sense of sending a quarterback you trusted as an opener to a direct rival in the AFC North.
Tomlin didn’t hold back.
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“To be honest, it was shocking to me. Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.” He added it made sense from Cincinnati’s perspective.
Tomlin’s comments showed his view of Andrew Berry’s decision-making puzzled respect. He questioned the wisdom of strengthening a division foe and highlighted how one roster choice can shift balance within a competitive division.
Shots fired: #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on Cleveland trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals:
“Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a QB you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in… pic.twitter.com/aQJKCxCUaJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 13, 2025
Berry, Cleveland’s general manager, engineered the trade that sent Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Bengals for a 2026 fifth-round selection. The Browns, having benched Joe Flacco for rookie Dillon Gabriel, appeared focused on evaluating younger players and planning ahead. Still, Berry’s role in finalizing a midseason deal with a divisional opponent drew Tomlin’s sharpest critique.
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The trade already had ripple effects. The Bengals added veteran experience after struggles at quarterback, and the Steelers capitalised on divisional drama with a 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns. Fans and analysts will monitor every game closely as the season progresses and stakes continue to rise.
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