Joe Flacco joined the Cincinnati Bengals last year after Joe Burrow went down with an injury. He made six starts for them before becoming a free agent but eventually returned to the franchise on a new contract to be a backup. He apparently thought he would sign somewhere else as a starter and admitted to being frustrated by the situation.
Joe Flacco Expresses Frustration Over Not Landing a Starting Job in Free Agency
Going back to the Bengals locks Flacco into a backup role and essentially eliminates his possibility of becoming a starter in Cincinnati unless Burrow becomes unavailable. This is apparently not the way he wanted his free agency to play out this year, as he claims to still see himself as a capable starting quarterback. He called out the teams that passed on him and don’t share his opinion of where he stands at this point in his career.
“I feel like I have unfinished business, that’s part of why I’m still here and playing … Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere, yeah, it pisses me off a little bit … I feel like I can help a team win … I wish I was the guy somewhere, and I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy … I’m a football player, I want to go out there and play, and I still want to show people that I’m better than you think I am,” Flacco said.
“I feel like I have unfinished business.”
Joe Flacco is very happy to be in Cincinnati, but wants everyone to know this isn’t the end for him.
“I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy.”#Bengals @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/AmCLEWThmm
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) March 25, 2026
Several teams are in need of a new quarterback ahead of the 2026 NFL season, but apparently, none of them showed interest in giving Flacco the opportunity to be that for them. The veteran was clear about his anger toward this situation and even claimed to believe they are making a mistake.
His six starts for the Bengals resulted in only one win, but his numbers weren’t nearly as bad as his record. He threw for 13 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions during his time in Cincinnati and was even selected to appear in the Pro Bowl.
While he finished just 36th among all quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for last season, half of his six starts with his new team included him finishing 13th or better in the weekly rankings.
Flacco went on to admit that he’s well aware of his role with the Bengals: being Burrow’s backup. It could actually work out for his desire to return to the field, as Burrow has missed 16 games over the past three seasons due to injuries.
