Joe Flacco Explains What 'Pisses' Him Off After Bengals Contract, Why Some NFL Teams Are 'Dumb'

Even though Joe Flacco is happy to be returning to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026, he did express some resentment toward other teams in the NFL for not calling him when they were making moves for quarterbacks.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after signing his deal with the Bengals, Flacco admitted "it pisses me off a little bit" that teams are "dumb" enough not to give him a starting opportunity:

"I think I can get all caught up in all that and say, 'Why not me' and be bitter about it. I probably do feel that way. Yeah, it pisses me off a little bit. But at the same time, I'm very happy to be here. I had a lot of fun with Joe (Burrow), and Joe's the guy. And believe me, I wish I was the guy somewhere, and think teams are dumb for not having be that guy."

Flacco agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million to return to the Bengals. He finished last season with Cincinnati after starting the year with the Cleveland Browns.

Despite being one of five players aged 40 or older in 2025, Flacco started 10 games between the Browns and Bengals. He threw for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

As a comparison, Flacco's 41.0 QBR was better than other free-agent quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa (37.5) and Gardner Minshew (12.2). Both of those players have a chance to start with their new teams, while Flacco is clearly going to be the No. 2 in Cincinnati behind Burrow.

Even though Flacco's best days are behind him, he has shown the skill to keep an offense moving well enough to get by when his number is called. It wasn't enough to earn him a potential starting job right now, but who knows what opportunities might arise around the NFL when training camps begin.