Quarterback Joe Flacco has agreed a one-year deal to return to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to reports.
The 41-year-old, a former Super Bowl MVP and NFL veteran of nearly two decades, spent part of last season with the Bengals after Joe Burrow suffered an injury.
Now, ESPN reports, the free agent quarterback has agreed to play for Cincinnati for the 2026 season.
Flacco’s decision to continue playing may come as a shock to those who expected the 18-year veteran to retire at the end of the prior season.
But the former Baltimore Ravens star is staying in the league after playing for both Ohio NFL teams last year.
Flacco got the start as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback in Week 1 before eventually losing that job to rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, 41, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals
Flacco played for the Cleveland Browns and the Bengals in 2025 – winning just two games
Gabriel would then go on to be replaced by Shedeur Sanders – leading to Flacco’s trade to the Bengals.
In Cincinnati, he would start four games before Burrow returned to health and took back the starting role.
Flacco started a combined 10 games for both teams and played in 13 in total.
He completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
While impressive at his age, Flacco only won two of those games – one for each team.
Flacco has been in the league since being picked 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Ravens. He helped that franchise win Super Bowl XLVII and took home the MVP award in the big game.
