Joe Flacco Says He Had Brief Conversation About Ravens Contract in NFL Free Agency

Joe Flacco says he discussed a reunion with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Cleveland Browns in free agency, per Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun.

“They did kind of reach out to [my agent] Joe [Linta], gauging my interest for something like that to happen,” Flacco told Preston. “My agent called me up and was like, ‘What do you want me to tell them?’

"I’m like, ‘Well, listen, I’m interested. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s not like choice No. 1, I don’t know what’s going to happen here with me if I’m going to get an opportunity to do something a little bit more, but I wasn’t against it.’ I think I would’ve been excited about it in a little bit of a way.”

The Ravens ultimately signed Cooper Rush to a two-year, $6.2 million contract worth up to $12.2 million in March before Flacco joined the Browns on a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $13 million last week.

Rush previously spent seven NFL seasons as a backup behind Dak Prescott in Dallas. He will now take the place of former Ravens QB2 Josh Johnson, who signed with the Washington Commanders this offseason.

Flacco, who was drafted by the Ravens in 2008, spent the first 11 years of his NFL career in Baltimore. He was named Super Bowl MVP after the 2012 season for leading the Ravens to victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Overtaken by Lamar Jackson in 2018 and traded in 2019, Flacco next played for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. After going unsigned at the beginning of the 2023 season, he joined the Browns and earned the Comeback Player of the Year award after leading the team to the playoffs.

Most recently, Flacco spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he traded starts with a periodically injured or benched Anthony Richardson.

Cleveland is restocking its quarterback room as the team braces for Deshaun Watson to potentially miss the 2025 season after suffering a second tear on his right Achilles tendon.

The Browns previuosly acquired Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a package including Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Pickett recently told TribLive's Jerry DiPaola after Flacco's signing that his "plan" is still to start for the Browns next season. Given all players involved stay healthy, however, Flacco still has a greater shot at getting playing time in his age-40 season behind Pickett than Lamar Jackson.