The Pittsburgh Steelers are focused on Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season. However, if he retires that could leave the Steelers high and dry. Most of the viable starting quarterbacks are off the market. That includes Joe Flacco, who just re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. He’ll be Joe Burrow’s backup, although he thinks he can still start. Flacco stated that he thinks teams are “dumb” for not signing him to be their starter. While Flacco didn’t get specific, Chris Simms offered his guess on at least one of those teams after connecting some dots.
"I feel like I have unfinished business."
Joe Flacco is very happy to be in Cincinnati, but wants everyone to know this isn't the end for him.
"I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy."#Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/AmCLEWThmm
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) March 25, 2026
“I think the Steelers are one of them,” Simms said Thursday on the Pro Football Talk podcast. “With the Pittsburgh thing, I can understand that. Also, there’s a part of me that goes, who would you rather have, Aaron Rodgers or Joe Flacco? I know Aaron Rodgers, the man is one of the greatest of all time, but we’re talking about right now.
“Joe Flacco will still stand in the pocket and throw the ball down the field and try to win the game and not manage it and throw short passes and never do anything. So, I think that’s where Joe Flacco is probably looking at it going, ‘Wait, there’s some guys out here that I’m better than right now and I’m not playing and I don’t get that.'”
The Steelers are one of the only teams that are not set under center, so Simms’ assumption could be right. Also, Flacco expressed a desire to play for Pittsburgh a few times this offseason. He was open to completing his tour of the AFC North.
However, it’s debatable if Flacco would have been a better option than Rodgers. He certainly looked better in the Bengals’ Week 7 game against the Steelers last season. Flacco shredded Pittsburgh’s defense, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Rodgers threw for 249 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Steelers might’ve wanted to sign Flacco simply so he couldn’t terrorize them again. He didn’t look too bad for the rest of the season, either. Flacco appeared in nine games for the Bengals, with six starts, and he put up 1,664 yards, 13 touchdown passes, and four interceptions.
Still, most of that might’ve been because the Bengals have one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are tough enough to stop on their own; together, they’re a force multiplier. The Steelers have DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., who are a solid combo, but they’re not Higgins and Chase. Flacco probably wouldn’t have been as productive with the Steelers.
Flacco is 41 years old, nearly the same age as Rodgers. At this point, both are past their primes, and the Steelers aren’t going to the Super Bowl with either of them. However, their ceiling is higher with Rodgers, who still has gas left in the tank.
With an improved cast of characters around him, there’s a possibility that Rodgers is better in 2026 than he was in 2025, assuming he re-signs with the Steelers. Flacco had some nice moments last year but trusting him to start for an entire season wouldn’t have been wise.
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