Joe Flacco Gets Pro Bowl Call-Up in Unexpected Year
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco has been selected to participate in the AFC Pro Bowl Games this year, the team announced on Friday.
This is the first time in Flacco’s 18-year career that he has been named a Pro Bowler.
Flacco, 41, earned the honor as a substitute for the Pro Bowl competition that will take place next Tuesday in Santa Clara, California. This recognition marks a surprising year for the veteran.
At the start of the season, Flacco was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, but he was relegated to the bench after four games. On October 7, Flacco was traded to the Bengals, who needed a starter after Joe Burrow’s injury due to a toe injury.
Mid-season, Flacco enjoyed one of his best moments in recent years, completing 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. According to data, Flacco and Burrow finished the season with the same amount of expected points added per passing play (0.11).
The Pro Bowl honor adds to the achievements Flacco has obtained throughout his career. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XLVII as a member of the Ravens, where he started in 163 games from 2008 to 2018.
Since then, Flacco has been a viable option as a starter for several teams, including the Bengals. After Burrow’s return from injury, Flacco became the team’s backup.
Flacco will become a free agent this offseason. Bengals coach Zac Taylor has expressed interest in having Flacco return for 2026. However, the veteran has expressed his desire to be a starter again.
