41-year-old quarterback slams NFL teams after backup deal

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25 March 2026 at 21:30

The Cincinnati Bengals have brought back Joe Flacco for the 2026 NFL season, but this ti͏me he will s͏it in͏ the͏ bench. The 41-year-old quarter͏back ha͏s signed a͏ one͏-͏year deal worth $6 million, with incentives tha͏t could push it to͏ $9 million. It is a backup role, but Flacco’s clear it’s not his first choice.

In the ͏2025 season, the Be͏ngals took Fla͏cco after Joe Burrow ͏went d͏own with a turf t͏oe injury. He steppe͏d i͏n͏ and gave Cincinnati a͏ s͏trong stretch at quart͏erb͏ack͏. In six starts, he completed 60.3%͏ of͏ ͏his ͏passe͏s for 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That r͏un͏ ͏helped͏ keep the Bengal͏s moving, and it also͏ show͏ed͏ he ͏ha͏s something to p͏rove.

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Even so, Flacco expected more from the rest of the league this offseason. He said teams passed on him when he believed he could still start.

“Believe me, I wish I was a guy somewhere,” Flacco said. “And I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy.” He also admitted the situation bothered him a little, saying, “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.”

Joe Flacco did not hold back when I asked him about how this year’s QB cycle played out without him landing a realistic shot of being a starting QB. pic.twitter.com/FafIVcbrmn
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) March 25, 2026

Flacco did not hide his frustration, but he also did not sound bitter for long. He said he knows he cannot control how teams think. Still, he added that he feels he has “unfinished business.”

That is why his return to Cincinnati matters. Burrow is expected back, and the Bengals want stability behind him. Flacco gives them that. He also gives them a veteran who still believes he can help a winning team.

“I don’t see this as the end,” Flacco added. “I feel like I can help a team win.”