The internet never forgets. And sometimes, it rewards patience.Back in 2015, Donald Trump declared Joe Flacco an elite quarterback during a Twitter Q&A session. The presidential candidate didn’t hesitate when asked the question that had divided NFL fans for years.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) runs for a first down in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won, 33-31.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) runs for a first down in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won, 33-31.
Now, after Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bengals to a 33-31 upset over the Steelers on Thursday night, those decade-old comments are making the rounds again.
Donald Trump’s Joe Flacco Prediction Resurfaces After Thursday Night Football Masterclass
Flacco delivered a vintage performance in just his second start for Cincinnati since being traded from Cleveland. The 40-year-old quarterback engineered a game-winning drive in the final two minutes.
He found Tee Higgins downfield for 28 yards to set up the winning field goal with seven seconds left.
Trump’soriginal statement was clear and confident, “I think Joe Flacco is, actually, a very elite quarterback. He won a Super Bowl, he did it really, to a certain extent, with that great arm of his. I would say absolutely. He is an elite quarterback.”
#AskTrump Send me your questions to answer live from @TwitterNYC later this afternoon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2015
Thetiming makes it perfect social media gold. Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes with zero interceptions against a Pittsburgh defense that entered the game 4-1.
He connected with Ja’Marr Chase 16 times for 161 yards. The running game came alive too, with Chase Brown rushing for over 100 yards for the first time this season.
The Bengals had lost four straight games before Thursday night. They fell behind 10-0 early. But Flacco stayed cool, leading scoring drives on seven of the team’s final eight possessions.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the Browns’ decision to trade Flacco to Cincinnati “shocking” earlier in the week. His concerns proved justified.
Flacco outdueled 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who threw four touchdowns himself but couldn’t overcome two first-half interceptions.
The performance moved Cincinnati to 3-4 and back into the AFC North race. It marked Flacco’s sixth different team to win a game with, cementing his status as one of the league’s ultimate journeymen.
Social Media Erupts Over Trump’s Decade-Old Hot Take
NFL fans couldn’t resist the opportunity to revisit Trump’s 2015 comments after Thursday night’s thriller.
The clip started circulating on social media within minutes of the final whistle. One fanwrote, “Literally the only words he has ever uttered that I agree with.”
A secondadded, “Trump continues to bat 1.000.”
A thirdpointed out, “Reminded how much faster he could talk back then.”
But not everyone was ready to hand Trump credit. A fourthquestioned, “Broken clock is right twice a day.”
The debate around Flacco’s elite status has raged since his 2013 Super Bowl MVP performance. Thursday night’s game-winning drive added another chapter to that discussion.
Whether Trump’s take ages well in the long term remains to be seen. But the 40-year-old quarterback made believers out of doubters for one October night in Cincinnati.