Joe Flacco, 41, Says NFL Teams Were ‘Dumb’ Not To Make Him A Starting QB: ‘It Pisses Me Off!’

by Sam LanierMay 19, 2026, 2:19 am >

Joe Flacco recently signed a one-year contract worth $6 million to return to the Cincinnati Bengals as their backup quarterback, but the former Super Bowl MVP isn’t too pleased with being a backup.

The veteran quarterback will spend another year backing up Joe Burrow; however, Flacco still thinks he could be the guy somewhere else, saying, “Believe me, I wish I were a guy somewhere.”

“I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy, but it is what it is. I’m not going to let them, or it get me down.”

Flacco, 41, is entering his 19th season in the NFL, bouncing around the league after being the Baltimore Ravens quarterback for 11 seasons. Flacco spent time with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts before ending up in Cincinnati.

With Burrow suffering a turf toe injury at the beginning of the 2025 season, Flacco took over for him and saw some success, throwing 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Flacco was traded from the Browns to the Bengals in a rare in-division trade.

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“I feel like I have unfinished business. It’s part of why I’m still here playing and doing all those things. Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere? Yeah, it pisses me off a little bit — but at the same time I’m very happy to be here,” Flacco said.

“I feel like I can help a team win. Yeah, it may be in a different role here, but I do still think I can help this team win in that role. I had a lot of fun with Joe [Burrow]. Joe’s the guy.”