The drama around the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback spot has dominated summer talk in Cleveland. Fans have been waiting to see who would finally step up and lead a club starved for direction, as four different quarterbacks took the field, all trying to earn their place. Who would start Week 1? That question hung over camp, with speculation swirling in every corner of the city.
Why Did the Cleveland Browns Pick Joe Flacco as Starter?
Turns out, the answer wasn’t earth-shattering: the Browns went with the guy they know. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has officially been named the starter for Week 1. Most believed the job was up for grabs, but according to Ian Rapoport, the team always leaned toward Flacco, the same quarterback who kept Cleveland’s 2023 season alive when Deshaun Watson got hurt.
The #Browns are naming QB Joe Flacco as their starter, the end of a training camp competition that never really was.
Flacco quickly emerged as QB1, while the others battled injuries. The player who led them to the playoffs in 2023 is back. pic.twitter.com/oJPj0CzhDe
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2025
Right out of the gate, Flacco locked up the starting spot again. Young quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel faced injuries and had trouble with consistency. Looking back at the 2023 campaign, Flacco signed midseason, started five games, and led the Browns to a 4-1 finish. He threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Even crazier, Flacco set an NFL record as the first player ever with 250-plus passing yards and multiple touchdowns in his first five starts with a new team. That stretch finished with a Week 17 win against the Jets, securing the Browns’ first playoff spot since 2020.
This move is all about experience, stability, and getting wins right now. No surprise the Browns stuck with what worked.
Can Shedeur Sanders Still Win Over Cleveland Browns Fans?
But the news didn’t sit well with everyone, especially when it came to Sanders.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Sanders has made headlines nationwide, and a lot of Browns fans believe he deserves his shot. Social media lit up right after the decision was announced, with plenty of supporters sounding off.
“Trade Shedeur to a real team,” one fan demanded.
“No wait! You’re telling me it’s not Shedeur or Gabriel… Browns, what are you doing?” another questioned.
Some stayed hopeful about Sanders’ future: “Shedeur is better and will start by Week 8.”
One frustrated supporter put it another way: “Disgusting what they’re doing to Shedeur, I just literally threw up inside a local Walmart,” wrote one angry fan.
And the take that seemed most common across the board: “I’m not surprised, but I do feel bad for Shedeur. They aren’t even giving him a chance smh.”
Indianapolis is clearly focused on winning with Flacco now. For fans who wanted to see a new era with Sanders running the show, this call feels pretty familiar. Cleveland may have its starter, but the debate isn’t dying down any time soon.
