The Cleveland Browns have one of the more unique quarterback situations in the NFL’s history. Four players have legitimate chances to earn the starting job, and while veteran Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco is the frontrunner, fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders has appeared to be making leaps in the minimal practice sessions so far.
Flacco and Sanders were caught in a viral moment during one of those practices when the Colorado alum asked the 40-year-old whether he could do some dance moves. Flacco was also spotted discussing his jersey number and how he was still attached to No. 5 despite not wearing it anymore.
Joe Flacco’s Viral Interaction With Sanders And the Story Behind His Jersey No. 5
No, Flacco isn’t wearing the No. 5 anymore. In fact, he hasn’t worn that number for several years now, but whenever someone calls Dillon Gabriel at the Browns’ practice by number five, the veteran said he always reacts.
“I was telling Dillon yesterday that somebody said, ‘Hey, 5’, I always look. I still look,” Flacco said after being mic’d up. “I think Anthony Walker was 5 when I got here last time. So, I think they just gave me 15. I don’t even remember. But yeah, I still react to more so of the 15.”
Flacco was narrating the story to Cedric Tillman, and when the receiver asked him why he had chosen No. 5 early in his career, he replied, “I don’t know. I just had it in high school. I actually wanted 16 because of [Joe] Montana. I like Montana, and my high school didn’t have it at the time. So, they had like 5 and some other, and I just picked 5.”
.@JoeFlacco was wired up for another day of OTAs! 🎤@crosscountrymtg | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/KzmZAoPlWs
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 7, 2025
While Montana spent the majority of his career with the San Francisco 49ers and led them to four Super Bowl wins, Flacco never played for the 49ers but led the Baltimore Ravens to a ring in 2012. Following the ascent of Lamar Jackson, Flacco has largely served as a backup or a second-string QB, whether in Baltimore or elsewhere, but now has a chance to get a decent starting time in Cleveland.
Flacco’s biggest competition for the starting job is perhaps Sanders, but the pair appears to be quite friendly in practice. During the above video, the two could be seen interacting in the most hilarious way imaginable. In the clip, Sanders asked his veteran, “You ever hit that dance?”
When the former Ravens superstar inquired, the rookie showed off his dance moves, leading Flacco to respond with a direct, “Definitely not. I don’t know if I’ve ever hit a public dance move in my life.”
While their quest to secure the starting job might be at odds with each other, it is clear that the two quarterbacks are developing a solid rapport with each other. Earlier in the week, Sanders even mentioned a ritual he has with the former NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
During an appearance on an Instagram Live, he mentioned that it was an everyday routine for him to ask Flacco, “Ay, bro, you good? You need anything?” Additionally, he even mentioned he would organize Flacco’s locker room daily if he asked him to.
Even though he entered the league with a ton of question marks, Sanders is quickly proving himself to be a fan favorite. But not just has he to beat the experience of Flacco, but also overtake both Gabriel and Kenny Pickett.