In an offseason that’s already seen its fair share of surprises, the Cleveland Browns have made a move that simultaneously looks to the future and honors the past, bringing veteran quarterback Joe Flacco back into the fold with a one-year, $4 million deal. What began as a short-term lifeline during a tumultuous 2023 campaign has now evolved into a renewed partnership between a franchise yearning for long-term success and a signal-caller whose late-career resurgence in Cleveland turned heads across the NFL.
Flacco, the 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP, wasn’t even on a roster when the 2023 season began. By late November, however, the Browns were down Deshaun Watson and searching for stability under center after inconsistent showings from P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Enter Flacco—a name that once haunted Browns fans as a longtime rival during his days with the Baltimore Ravens—who stepped in off the street, turned back the clock, and guided the Browns to a playoff berth that had once seemed improbable.
In just five regular-season games with Cleveland, Flacco threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns, posting a 4-1 record as the starter and igniting an offense that had been sputtering for weeks. His chemistry with wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, paired with his deep-ball accuracy and poise in the pocket, gave Cleveland a much-needed spark during a critical stretch run. The Browns finished the regular season at 11-6, riding Flacco’s steady arm into a Wild Card playoff appearance.
Though Cleveland was bounced from the postseason after a humbling loss to the Houston Texans, Flacco’s brief run became the stuff of legend for a fanbase long familiar with quarterback instability. From the moment he took the field in the orange and brown, the vibe around the team changed. It wasn’t just the production—it was the confidence. The aura. The experience. Flacco gave the Browns a reliable, calm presence under center that allowed the rest of the offense to flourish. The team played with a sense of belief that had eluded them during the Watson injury drama.
Now, a few months removed from that improbable stretch, Flacco and the Browns have agreed to run it back—at least for one more season.
The one-year contract includes a $4 million base value, with incentives that could push the total higher depending on Flacco’s playing time and performance. It’s a modest deal in today’s quarterback market, but one that speaks volumes about Cleveland’s trust in the veteran passer and their willingness to protect themselves in a high-stakes season. With Deshaun Watson expected to return from shoulder surgery in time for the start of the 2025 campaign, Flacco offers the Browns one of the league’s most experienced insurance policies—one who has already proven he can step in and win meaningful games in this system.
Flacco’s return also ensures continuity within a quarterback room that has experienced more than its share of upheaval in recent years. There’s a certain irony in the fact that the Browns’ best quarterback play in 2023 came from a player who wasn’t even on the team’s radar until Week 12. For an organization that has cycled through dozens of starting quarterbacks since its return to the league in 1999, the presence of a steady, veteran hand like Flacco is more than welcome.
Yet the deal also raises questions about the Browns’ long-term vision at the position. Deshaun Watson remains under contract on a massive, fully guaranteed deal—an unprecedented $230 million commitment that, to date, has yielded inconsistent results and serious durability concerns. When healthy, Watson has shown flashes of his old Pro Bowl self, but he’s played in just 12 games over the past two seasons and is coming off major surgery on his throwing shoulder. Betting on his full recovery is both a necessity and a gamble.
That’s where Flacco fits in—not as the face of the franchise, but as the bridge. The steady hand. The safety net. And maybe, if the situation arises, the spark once again.
Flacco has never been one to seek headlines or court controversy. He has always carried himself with a quiet professionalism that coaches admire and teammates respect. In his limited time in Cleveland, he made a point to embrace the city, the fanbase, and the culture. He endeared himself to the locker room not by demanding respect but by earning it with his performance and demeanor. His impact was felt beyond the stat sheet. And now, by choosing to return, he’s signaling that Cleveland isn’t just a pit stop—it’s a place he believes in.
His comeback narrative in 2023 was one of the most compelling stories in the league. At a time when the NFL’s youth movement at quarterback is in full swing, Flacco reminded everyone that experience still matters. That timing, accuracy, and decision-making can still win games, even in a league increasingly dominated by dual-threat phenoms and off-schedule playmaking. There was a certain poetry in seeing Flacco, once labeled a “game manager” in his prime, bombing 60-yard passes to Amari Cooper while leading two-minute drills with ice in his veins.
For Browns fans, the emotional whiplash of cheering for Flacco—who famously tormented Cleveland in purple and black for over a decade—is still surreal. He went 18-3 against the Browns during his tenure with the Ravens, including several late-game heroics that crushed Cleveland’s hopes. But time, it seems, has a way of softening grudges. And as Flacco launched touchdowns at FirstEnergy Stadium in December 2023, a strange but welcome chant began to echo from the Dawg Pound: “Let Joe Cook.”
Now, the kitchen is open again.
The 2025 season will bring new challenges for the Browns. The AFC North remains one of the most competitive divisions in football, with Joe Burrow returning healthy for the Bengals, Lamar Jackson looking to repeat as MVP in Baltimore, and the Steelers continuing their never-ending search for the next great quarterback. The margin for error in the division is razor-thin. Depth at every position—especially quarterback—is no longer a luxury. It’s a requirement.
And few backup quarterbacks bring the resume that Flacco does. In addition to his Super Bowl XLVII title, he has 43,936 career passing yards and 245 touchdowns. He has started 183 games and won 104 of them. He has been to the playoffs seven times and owns one of the most efficient postseason runs in league history, throwing 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions during Baltimore’s title run. Those experiences matter, particularly to a Cleveland team that is good enough to contend but still working to find its championship identity.
There’s also the mentorship component. Thompson-Robinson remains a developmental prospect, and Flacco’s presence offers him a valuable resource—a walking encyclopedia of quarterbacking wisdom who’s seen every coverage, every blitz, every game script. Even Watson, who is entering Year 8 in the NFL, can benefit from Flacco’s insight, preparation, and even-keeled approach.
For Kevin Stefanski and the coaching staff, having Flacco back in the building provides a sense of comfort. There’s no need to overhaul the playbook or tailor the offense to a new backup. Flacco already knows the system. He’s already built trust with the receivers, with the offensive line, and with the coaching staff. That kind of continuity is hard to find in the offseason.
What the Browns now possess is rare: a capable, veteran backup who has already proven he can thrive in this environment and command the respect of the locker room. If Watson struggles or gets injured again, Flacco is no longer the emergency plan—he’s the next man up. And if things go as hoped and Watson plays at a Pro Bowl level, Flacco will remain a valuable mentor and sideline general.
From Flacco’s perspective, the deal is also a perfect match. After spending most of the past few years in limbo—bouncing between the Jets, Eagles, and practice squads—he’s found a home where his skill set is appreciated, his leadership is respected, and his role is clearly defined. He doesn’t need to chase a starting job or uproot his family for a short-term payday. In Cleveland, he has stability. And maybe, just maybe, a shot at one more playoff run.
It’s not often that NFL careers enjoy second acts—let alone third or fourth ones—with the kind of resurgence Flacco experienced last year. But his return to Cleveland is a reminder that narratives in sports are never finished until the final whistle blows. Just when it seemed his time had passed, Flacco became the heartbeat of a playoff team. Just when it seemed his chapter had closed, he flipped the page and wrote something new.
And so, as the 2025 season approaches, the Browns once again turn to a familiar face in unfamiliar colors. The former Raven. The Super Bowl champ. The unlikeliest Cleveland hero. Joe Flacco is back in the Dawg Pound.
And this time, he’s one of them.
