Mike Tomlin questions Browns' Andrew Berry over Joe Flacco trade

Matt Sullivan

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Mike Tomlin questions Browns' Andrew Berry over Joe Flacco trade image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ahead of Week 6, the Cleveland Browns pulled off a surprising trade, sending Joe Flacco, their Week 1 starting quarterback, to the in-division rival Cincinnati Bengals.

In the wake of Joe Burrow's injury and Jake Browning's struggles, the Bengals were searching for a new starting quarterback, and the Browns were willing to send Flacco in a very rare and surprising intra-division quarterback trade.

After Week 6, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, in a press conference shared by Ari Meirvon of The 33rd Team following a win over the Browns, questioned why Browns executive vice president Andrew Berry would make such a trade.

Mike Tomlin questions why the Browns would trade Joe Flacco to the Bengals

Tomlin's response was rooted in the Browns' decision to give a division rival a starting quarterback.

"Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn't make sense to me to trade a QB you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that's hurting in that area," Tomlin said. "But that's just my personal feeling."

Tomlin was confused by the trade from the Browns' perspective. While trading Flacco wasn't off the table, doing so to a division rival in need of quarterback help is a very strange decision to make.

Cleveland moved Flacco to the Bengals in return for a pick swap, moving up from the 6th round of the 2026 NFL draft to the 5th round. It's not a large return for Flacco, especially since it's a trade in the division.

The Browns effectively helped their division rival by making this trade, and by not getting something significant in return, it's an even stranger deal.

More: Browns QB depth chart: Where Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders stand after Joe Flacco traded to Bengals

Flacco didn't help lead the Bengals to a win in Week 6, as they lost to the Green Bay Packers coming off a bye. Cincinnati is set to face the Steelers with Flacco under center in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football. This quote might be some gamesmanship from Tomlin, but he's also questioning why Berry would make this trade.

The Browns have had a quarterback room in constant flux over the years, and now with Dillon Gabriel as the starter and Shedeur Sanders as the backup, and Flacco in Cincinnati, their quarterback room is a lot younger than it was at the beginning of the year.

That doesn't change Tomlin's questioning of the deal. His issue isn't with the trade itself, but the fact that Cleveland sent Flacco to a division rival. The Bengals might have a chance to stay afloat with Flacco at quarterback, and if they make the playoffs, it'd be thanks in part to the Browns giving up Flacco for very little.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.