Joe Flacco's Bengals Jersey Number Revealed in Video After Trade from Browns

Joe Flacco will be wearing No. 16 for the first time in his long NFL career following his trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals shared a video Wednesday of a team employee preparing the quarterback's new jersey, which revealed his new uniform number:

This is a departure for Flacco, who has worn No. 5 or 15 for almost the entirety of his pro run. His last two years with the New York Jets were the exception. Following a trade back to New York in 2021, he settled for No. 19.

Assuming No. 5 was Flacco's first choice, that was off the table since it's worn by star wide receiver Tee Higgins. Backup wideout Charlie Jones, meanwhile, laid claim to No. 15.

The Bengals acquired Flacco in the hope he's a big enough upgrade to keep their playoff hopes alive until Joe Burrow returns from a turf toe injury, if Burrow comes back at all this year.

Jake Browning did reasonably well when replacing the franchise quarterback in 2023. It has been a much different case in 2025, with Browning throwing for 516 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions across three straight defeats.

The Flacco trade reeked of desperation, but Cincinnati didn't have much alternative. Browning clearly isn't the solution, and the list of outside backups realistically available didn't inspire much optimism, either.

Nobody will be surprised if Flacco's early struggles with the Browns carry over to the Bengals. The 40-year-old has been written off plenty of times before, though, only to surprise his skeptics.