Joe Flacco had a bold message for the teams that did not consider him as a possible starter during free agency.
Flacco re-signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, committing to a role as Joe Burrow’s backup quarterback for another year. On Wednesday, the 41-year-old admitted that it “pisses me off” that he did not garner interest as a starter, and that he thinks many teams are making a big mistake by overlooking him.
“I had a lot of fun with Joe. Joe’s the guy. Believe me, I wish I was the guy somewhere, and I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy, but it is what it is. I’m not going to let it get me down,” Flacco told reporters Wednesday. “I’m a football player. I want to go out there and play. I still want to show people that I’m better than you think I am, just like I always have. I understand that what I’m doing here is a little bit different than that, but it doesn’t mean I don’t still have those thoughts.”
"I feel like I have unfinished business."
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) March 25, 2026
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
Flacco did make the Pro Bowl last year after throwing for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games as Joe Burrow’s injury replacement. Despite that, quarterback-needy teams generally chose to prioritize younger quarterbacks with more upside, even if they were more expensive than Flacco would have been.
Flacco has never given up on his hope to start again regularly in the NFL. The league remains unwilling to give him that opportunity, however, and he will have to settle for a backup role again.
