Joe Flacco, Jets
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Former New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco getting ready before an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills.
Another reunion could be in store for the New York Jets this offseason.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini name-dropped veteran quarterback Joe Flacco as an option that remains available in free agency.
Flacco, 41, has been with the Jets previously in two stints. He was part of the team during the 2020 season and spent time with them in 2021-22. This would be his third stint with the team.
During all of his runs with the Jets, Flacco has appeared in 12 games and has made nine starts. With those opportunities, Flacco has completed 57.5% of his passes, has thrown for 2,253 passing yards, and has thrown 14 touchdowns to six interceptions.
A Strong Resume, but He Is Older
The former Delaware product first entered the league as the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.
Across his 18 seasons in the NFL, Flacco has done it all. He has won a Super Bowl, been named a Super Bowl MVP, won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year honors, and been the Rookie of the Year.
Most recently, the veteran passer spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2025, Flacco was named a Pro Bowler. He appeared in 13 games and made 10 starts. With those opportunities, he completed 60.3% of his passes, threw for 2,479 passing yards, and had 15 passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
“In the span of his six Bengals starts, he threw the NFL’s third most touchdown passes, behind Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye, and tied with Dak Prescott, and threw for the fifth most yards,” senior writer Geoff Hobson wrote.
The Key to a Potential Flacco Jets Reunion
Flacco isn’t ready to hang up the cleats. He wants to return for a 19th season at the NFL level. However, there is a catch.
According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, Flacco “wants an opportunity to at least compete for a starting job.”
Tom Pelissero
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.
It’s unclear if that opportunity would exist with the Jets.
Head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey haven’t made any declarative statements that Geno Smith is the unquestioned QB1.
When Smith was asked about his role on the team in 2026 and what he discussed behind the scenes with management, Smith punted on the question.
Smith explained to NFL Insider Josina Anderson that he didn’t want to step on any toes and say anything out of line. Instead, suggesting that coach Glenn would address any of those questions at the appropriate time.
Jets Should Open Things Up
If that is the only thing preventing a potential Flacco Jets reunion, then the team should acquiesce.
Competition is good for business.
Let Smith and Flacco battle it out for the starting job. Last year, the Jets gift-wrapped the starting job to Justin Fields, and that didn’t work out so well.
Flacco proved he still has gas left in the tank. While Smith is a clear upgrade over what the Jets had last season, he isn’t coming off the best year either.
He was the most sacked QB in the NFL last season, and he led the league in interceptions. Smith, like every other player on the roster, should earn his place on the squad.