Joe Flacco is preparing to play his 19th NFL season in 2026, but it could be without the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Flacco, who is set to hit free agency this week, wants to receive one last chance to start in his career.
However, if that opportunity doesn't present itself in free agency, Flacco will strongly consider a return to Cincinnati.
"Veteran QB Joe Flacco, who will be a free agent Monday, wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job. But if he’s a backup, sources say, Flacco would strongly consider a return to Cincinnati, where he filled in for Joe Burrow last fall and made his first Pro Bowl," Pelissero said.
At this stage of his career, it's hard to see Flacco being a viable starting signal-caller. However, a few teams could sign Flacco to compete for their starting roles in 2026, including the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Minnesota will be searching for a veteran quarterback to compete with J.J. McCarthy, and Flacco could be that guy. The 41-year-old played solid football in six starts with the Bengals this past season, tossing 13 touchdowns and four interceptions with a 61.7% completion rate.
New York's quarterback situation is a complete mess, so the franchise could turn to Flacco for a year as they look to get back on track.
If Aaron Rodgers does't return to Pittsburgh, the Steelers could be in panic mode. Signing Flacco to be the 2026 starter would be underwhelming, but the Super Bowl XLVII MVP would be one of the options on the table.
Flacco returning to Cincinnati to back up Joe Burrow makes a ton of sense, but if he does sign elsewhere to compete for a starting job, the Vikings, Jets, and Steelers would be logical landing spots.
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