Joe Flacco

Joseph Vincent Flacco (born January 16, 1985) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens before being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Flacco was Baltimore's starting quarterback from 2008 until midway through the 2018 season, helping lead the Ravens to the playoffs six times during his tenure in Baltimore. The Ravens won the AFC North twice, appeared in three AFC Championship Games, and won Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season. Flacco was named Super Bowl XLVII's MVP, concluding a postseason run in which he tied Joe Montana's single postseason record for touchdown passes (11) without an interception. That off-season, he signed a six-year contract worth $120.6 million, a record high for a quarterback at the time.

A decline in performance and a hip injury resulted in Flacco losing his starting position to rookie backup Lamar Jackson; he was subsequently traded to the Denver Broncos in 2019. A neck injury cut his season short and he was waived by the Broncos with a failed physical designation. Flacco joined the Jets in 2020 as a backup to Sam Darnold. He then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, but was traded back to the Jets after they lost Zach Wilson to injury. Flacco joined the Browns midway through the 2023 season following a season-ending injury to Deshaun Watson. He led Cleveland to a playoff berth and won the Comeback Player of the Year award. He later signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts before returning to Cleveland in 2025. A few weeks into the 2025 season, Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals after they lost Joe Burrow to injury, and he was selected to his first-ever Pro Bowl at the end of that season (he was previously invited to the 2015 Pro Bowl following the 2014 season, but declined). At the height of his career, Flacco was also known for having one of the strongest arms in the NFL.