Bengals, 41-year-old QB Joe Flacco agree on 1-year deal

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has secured another opportunity to continue his NFL career, agreeing to a one-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 41-year-old signal-caller has finalized a deal worth $6 million, with performance incentives that could elevate the total value to $9 million, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The agreement was confirmed by Flacco's agent, Joe Linta.

Flacco's path to Cincinnati began with the Cleveland Browns, where he started the season as the primary quarterback. However, after completing just four starts, the Browns elected to transition to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, effectively ending Flacco's tenure as the team's starter.

The timing of Cleveland's quarterback change coincided perfectly with Cincinnati's pressing need for an experienced signal-caller. The Bengals found themselves requiring immediate quarterback depth following Joe Burrow's turf toe injury and inconsistent performances from backup Jake Browning.

To address this situation, Cincinnati executed a trade with Cleveland, sending a 2026 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round selection. The move proved beneficial for both parties, as Browning subsequently signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the current offseason.

Flacco's performance with the Bengals demonstrated his continued viability as a reliable quarterback option at the professional level.