The Cleveland Browns are walking a tightrope with one of the most nuanced quarterback rooms in the NFL. Typically, a crowded quarterback situation raises eyebrows, and this one is no exception. At the center of it all is the venerable Joe Flacco, accompanied by the likes of Kenny Pickett, the injured Deshaun Watson, as well as rookie talents Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Flacco, the NFL’s elder statesman at 40, seems poised to take the helm as the favorite for the starting job in 2025.
However, if you think Flacco is ready to embrace the mentor role, think again. At a recent OTAs session, he made it clear that his primary focus is being a quarterback, not a teacher. When pressed about his past statements on mentorship, Flacco took a candid approach, pushing back against the narrative that he ought to take on a guiding role for the younger quarterbacks. His response was both thoughtful and revealing, suggesting that the very nature of such questions can put a player in a no-win situation.
“It’s a good question to bait somebody into answering,” Flacco said, summarizing the awkwardness that often accompanies discussions of mentorship. “If I say, ‘I don’t want to be a mentor,’ I look bad. If I say, ‘I do want to be a mentor,’ then I look like an idiot that doesn’t care about being good and playing football.” That’s an insightful take, reflecting the delicate balance aging quarterbacks must navigate as they prepare for their own careers while helping young players find their footing.
Despite his apparent reluctance to wear the mentor cap, Flacco emphasized that he is more than willing to share what he knows when the opportunity arises. “It’s not necessarily my job to make sure they listen to me,” he shared. Flacco seems to believe that the best mentorship comes naturally, through leading by example and demonstrating the hard work that goes into being a pro.
His history of ambivalence toward mentoring younger signal-callers isn’t new. Flacco’s comments regarding mentoring have varied over the years—he was dismissive toward the idea when the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in 2018 and didn’t warm up to a mentoring role for Drew Lock with the Broncos in 2019. Even his experience last year with the Colts illustrates a pattern: while he acknowledges the role when convenient, he is candid about his desire to compete for the starting job.
With the Browns’ quarterback picture still hazy, Flacco’s seasoned presence might be their best shot, especially given the up-and-down nature of his competitors. Pickett has yet to prove himself as a reliable starter, while Gabriel and Sanders, despite their collegiate accolades, weren’t selected until the later rounds—indicating a lack of consensus about their immediate readiness.
Interestingly, Flacco admitted to having a bit of a reaction to his team’s draft choices, noting that his wife informed him of the Sanders pick. The connection to Sanders adds an intriguing layer; the rookie has a charisma and energy that Flacco seems to appreciate. In Flacco’s words, “Shedeur has been great… he’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms,” signaling that he values the camaraderie and youthful spirit that Sanders brings.
As Flacco embarks on his 18th NFL season and prepares to guide the Browns on what could be another challenging journey, one thing is clear: he may not see himself as a conventional mentor, but his experience and insight could prove invaluable, not just for himself, but for the entire quarterback room—if they choose to listen. The coming season will undoubtedly be pivotal for the Browns, with Flacco at the center of it all, working quietly but effectively in his quest to reclaim his place on the field.
