Joe Flacco is giving it another go in the AFC North.
The 41-year-old quarterback is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year, $6 million deal with the potential of $3 million more in incentives, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday.
Flacco spent the majority of the 2025 season with the Bengals following an in-season trade with the Cleveland Browns, completing 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards and a 13-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in nine games (six starts). Despite signing 39-year-old quarterback Josh Johnson in March, retaining Flacco remained a priority for Cincinnati in the 2026 offseason, per Pelissero.
Cincinnati accomplished that goal on Tuesday, convincing Flacco to come back to the Queen City. Pelissero reported earlier this offseason that if Flacco couldn't find a potential starting job, his preference was returning to the Bengals.
An 18-year veteran who has spent the majority of his career with the Ravens, Flacco returned to Cleveland to stabilize the position in 2025 but struggled to recapture the magic that saw him lead the Browns to the postseason in 2023. With the Bengals in need of help following Joe Burrow's significant toe injury and after three miserable weeks spent with backup Jake Browning under center, Cincinnati dialed its AFC North rival to acquire Flacco in a move of desperation that netted the Bengals a win in just his second start.
It would be the only game Flacco won as a starter in 2025, but his experience and demonstrated ability to sling the football to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins assured the Bengals that Flacco was worth a roster spot behind the oft-injured Burrow.
After watching their season enter a tailspin following Burrow's injury in Week 2 of 2025, the Bengals aren't interested in carrying any vulnerabilities under center into 2026. Flacco and Johnson provide Cincinnati with two proven veterans who possess extensive experience gained on NFL fields.
If all goes well, they won't need either. But they're preparing accordingly just in case.
