Joe Flacco’s anticipated return to the Cleveland Browns did not materialize, but he has now secured a favorable landing spot in a neighboring state. According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, Flacco is set to sign a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts worth up to $8.7 million. The deal includes $4.5 million in guaranteed money.
Flacco’s comeback to an NFL roster comes after a year of waiting in vain for a team to show genuine interest, leaving him without a contract until late into the regular season. It was the Browns’ desperation that eventually led to a visit, and what began as a coach flight to Cleveland turned into an exciting six-week stretch. During this time, Flacco made history as the first quarterback in Browns franchise history to record four consecutive 300-plus yard games, ultimately helping the team secure a playoff berth.
Having reached a point where he started to accept that he might not receive a call from an NFL team, Flacco’s fortunes changed when the Browns reached out. Now, due to his impressive performance in Cleveland, he has earned another opportunity with the Colts. The team was seeking a veteran backup to support their promising second-year quarterback, Anthony Richardson, after Gardner Minshew departed for Las Vegas.
In his six starts, which included five regular-season games and one playoff appearance, Flacco demonstrated that he can still compete at a high level in the NFL. He threw for 1,616 yards with a 13-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio, earning him the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. While he did have a few interceptions throughout games, his overall contributions outweighed the negatives. Following their experience in 2023, during which Minshew took over as the backup quarterback from Week 5 to Week 18, the Colts recognized the value of having a reliable backup and made sure to add Flacco, who has proven his worth over the past six months.
Flacco, who was named Super Bowl MVP during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, has amassed impressive career statistics, including 43,936 passing yards, 245 touchdowns, and 155 interceptions.
Ideally, the Colts won’t need to rely on Flacco during the regular season. However, given that 66 different quarterbacks started games in the NFL last season, having a dependable backup plan has never been more crucial. The Colts believe they have found that in Flacco.
