The Indianapolis Colts signed former Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco to serve as Anthony Richardson’s backup next season, and Flacco is excited for the opportunity.
Remember: last spring, Flacco generated zero interest, and he ended up entering the 2023 campaign without a team. So now, he is just thankful to have a job in the NFL.
“It was obviously a little bit different than last offseason, when I didn’t get any calls at all,” Flacco said, via Nick Shook of NFL media. “But even this offseason, I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go. It wasn’t like I played a ton of games last year or anything like that, but definitely grateful for Indy to reach out and have this as an opportunity.”
Flacco ultimately signed to the Browns’ practice squad in late November of this past year and would go on to make six starts for Cleveland.
He went 4-1 in his five regular-season starts, throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 60.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 90.2.
However, he regressed considerably in the playoffs, throwing a couple of pick-sixes in the Browns’ blowout Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans.
Still, Flacco was hoping to be back in Cleveland, even if it meant reverting to a reserve role with Deshaun Watson returning from shoulder surgery.
The 39-year-old said he was “a little bit” surprised the Browns did not re-sign him, as they decided to roll with Jameis Winston as their No. 2 quarterback.
But for now, Flacco is just enjoying the ride, even if it means it will continue in Indianapolis rather than Cleveland.
“When you have something that you love to do and you enjoy putting in the work and all that, I don’t know too many people that would give that up to try to go do something else or figure out what else that may be,” Flacco said. “I have no idea what else that would be. One day we’ll figure that out. But I’m not really ready to kind of go figure out what else that may be that I love to do, especially when I’m gonna be given an opportunity to still do what I love to do. Having five kids at home also kind of pushes me in the direction of coming back here and doing those things, I’m sure.”
We’ll see what’s in store for Joe Flacco in 2024.
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