Joe Flacco, now 40 and a Super Bowl champ with the Baltimore Ravens, is still chasing that starting quarterback dream, and he’s landed in Cleveland with the Browns, signing a one-year deal to be their No. 1. But it’s not a done deal yet. The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel from Oregon and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado in 2025, and they’ve got Kenny Pickett, who came over from the Philadelphia Eagles, in the mix too. It’s a quarterback room that’s got experience and youth colliding, and Flacco’s loving every minute of it.
Flacco hasn’t been in a QB competition since his sophomore year of high school, as Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN noted, but he’s embracing the challenge. “Shedeur has been great. I mean, he’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms,” Flacco said. “I think so far, there’s been at least once in the meeting room that he’s made me crack a smile, and that’s what it’s all about. You know, he’s a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he’s been a lot of fun. I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his dad, and now I’m playing with him.” It’s a wild twist, considering Flacco’s been in the league since 2008, the same year Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s dad, retired. Now, he’s mentoring the next generation, and it’s clear he’s enjoying the dynamic.
Flacco’s not just here to mentor, though. He’s here to win, and his 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts—1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in eight games—shows he’s still got gas in the tank. The Browns are betting on that experience, especially with Deshaun Watson sidelined for most of 2025 due to a second Achilles tear. Flacco’s the veteran presence, but he’s not taking anything for granted. Gabriel and Sanders are hungry, and Pickett’s got something to prove after his time in Pittsburgh and Philly. It’s a quarterback room that’s got everyone watching, wondering who’ll emerge as the starter when the season kicks off against the Denver Broncos on September 7.
For Flacco, it’s about leading by example, not just talking the talk. “The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work,” he said, echoing his comments from earlier in the offseason. It’s a philosophy that’s resonated with his younger teammates, and with the Browns’ offense looking to rebound after a 3-14 season, Flacco’s steady hand could be the difference. Sanders, in particular, brings a celebrity aura to the room, but Flacco’s not intimidated. He’s seen it all, and he’s ready to guide Sanders through the ups and downs of the NFL. It’s a story of experience meeting potential, and for the Browns, it’s a gamble that could pay off big. Stay tuned, because this quarterback battle’s got all the makings of a prime-time drama, and Flacco’s front and center.
