Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has lost his starting job four games into the season, and the veteran quarterback shared his reaction to the tough news on Wednesday.
The Browns have benched Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel for Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings. When asked about head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision, Flacco told reporters “it is what it is.”
“I think the tougher thing is just going through what we’ve gone through the last four weeks, not being able to produce the way we’ve wanted to,” Flacco said. “When you’re in the moment and you’re having conversations with people, it is what it is. You look people in the eye and tell them how it is, and that’s what it is.”
Flacco was also asked if he saw the change coming.
“I don’t think I foresaw it. Listen, I said it on Sunday, anytime you’re in this league, everybody’s always getting evaluated. The job of a quarterback is to help you win football games,” Flacco said. “I don’t know if I saw it coming, but me and Kevin have good conversations. It wasn’t like it was anything super long or drawn out like that, but it got to that point and I had a good conversation with him about it and it is what it is.”
Browns QB Joe Flacco on his reaction to getting benched pic.twitter.com/DTiHCysv3X
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 1, 2025
Flacco had little competition for the starting job in training camp and the preseason. It was never realistic for Gabriel or fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders to begin the season as Cleveland’s starter, and the team traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders in August. Flacco had played well for the Browns and helped lead them to the playoffs in his previous stint with the team in 2023, which is part of the reason Stefanski gave him the first shot.
The results were not been, however. Flacco went just 16/34 for 184 yards, no touchdowns and 2 interceptions in Cleveland’s 34-10 Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. The former Super Bowl MVP has just 2 touchdown passes compared to 6 interceptions on the season and threw for fewer than 200 yards in three of his four starts. The Browns are 1-3.
Flacco probably is not thrilled that he has been benched, but there is no way he was surprised.
