Cincinnati is adding an elite quarterback to its roster in free agency.
Veteran gunslinger Joe Flacco will be back for his 19th season in the NFL in 2026. He’s returning to the Bengals after signing a one-year contract worth up to $9 million in free agency, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report the compensation.
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Flacco, 41, was the fifth-oldest player in the NFL last year and second-oldest quarterback behind Steelers veteran Aaron Rodgers. He appeared in 13 games with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, starting 10 of them and posting a 2-8 record.
In Cincinnati, he’ll join a quarterbacks room that already includes Joe Burrow and Josh Johnson.
Here’s a closer look at Flacco’s new contract and how he fits with the Bengals:
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Joe Flacco contract details
Here’s a breakdown of Flacco’s contract with the Bengals by the numbers:
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Contract total value: $6 million, worth up to $9 million with incentives
Joe Flacco stats
Flacco is set to enter his 19th NFL season in 2026. Here’s a look at his stats from his long career so far:
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Games (starts): 209 (201)
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Completion rate: 4,417-of-7,167 (61.6%)
Flacco was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2025, two years after he won Comeback Player of the Year for his five-game stint that helped lead the Browns to the playoffs.
How Joe Flacco fits with the Bengals
Flacco will take over the backup quarterback job for the Bengals, sliding in as QB2 on the depth chart behind Burrow.
Cincinnati recently inked a free agent deal with Johnson, but Flacco’s return adds some more depth to a quarterback room that has experienced its fair share of injuries in recent years. Given potential durability concerns with Burrow, Flacco is a good insurance option that has been effective as a starter in recent seasons.
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It hasn’t always translated to wins, however.
Flacco is just 4-12 as a starter over the last two seasons, including a 1-5 record when he filled in for Burrow with the Bengals in 2025.
If nothing else, he provides a familiar face for Zac Taylor’s team and one that can be trusted if they need a spot starter.
USA TODAY Sports’ Nick Brinkerhoff contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Flacco contract: Bengals, QB agree to one-year deal
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