The Cincinnati Bengals didn't have him for very long, but Joe Flacco instantly became a fan favorite for his play after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns.
While he didn't help the Bengals make the playoffs, his Thursday Night Football comeback win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a great moment. Now, the 41-year-old QB is a free agent and will have a big decision to make.
Flacco could enter his 19th NFL season or retire. During an appearance on the BMore Football Podcast with the Baltimore Sun's Bennett Conlin, Flacco revealed his thoughts on retirement and his future in the NFL.
Joe Flacco reveals retirement thoughts after Bengals season
"A lot of guys talk about falling out of love with the game or just kind of knowing," Flacco said. "I don't think that's hit me yet."
Flacco doesn't seem inclined to retire based on his comments and will instead look to sign a free-agent deal this offseason to return for his 19th season in the league.
The Bengals might be a potential landing spot, though Flacco has mentioned before that he doesn't simply want to be a backup; he wants a chance to start.
With Joe Burrow still the starter, Flacco likely won't have a chance to play unless Burrow suffers another injury.
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It's not out of the question that Flacco comes back, but he's more likely to find a new team this offseason, as he looks for a chance to play, not just sit on the sideline.
The landing spot for the fan favorite veteran quarterback is unknown, but there will be plenty of teams that have interest in Flacco as an option to begin the 2026 season, or as a veteran presence with a young or uncertain QB room.
Flacco is a 41-year-old quarterback, but he isn't planning to hang up his cleats just yet and is ready to come back for another year in the league.
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