The dust has settled on the NFL’s craziest quarterback battle. The Cleveland Browns have announced that Joe Flacco will be their starting quarterback.
The news ends one of the most chaotic storylines of the 2025 NFL preseason. In a perfect world, Cleveland would have high-priced veteran Deshaun Watson as their franchise quarterback. But with his season already ended after an offseason injury, it’s been a five-way slugfest for the quarterback job in Cleveland.
The 40-year-old Flacco emerged as the victor of a quarterback battle that included two rookies, a former first-round pick and one of the league’s most peculiar Pro Bowlers.
While Flacco has been the steady hand for the Browns, much of the attention has been directed at the rookie combo of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Both rookies has flashed potential this preseason, including Sanders. However, Sanders is currently missing time with an oblique injury.
Former Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett was also in the mix. After spending 2024 as a backup for the Eagles, Pickett was gunning for another starting gig, but fell short.
After a string of injuries, the Browns also added veteran Tyler “Snoop” Huntley in the mix. Huntley, who signed on Aug. 5, took half the reps in the Browns’ most recent preseason game along with Gabriel.
Huntley is best known for his time in Baltimore, where he served as a backup to Lamar Jackson. In 2022, he was named a Pro Bowl replacement despite starting only four games in relief of Jackson that year.
Ultimately, the Browns opted to stick with Flacco. The longtime vet is best known for his 11-year run with the Ravens. Since then, he’s bounced around the league, playing for the Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Jets again, Browns, Colts and now a second stint with the Colts.
Flacco and the Browns are set to open up the 2025 regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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