Joe Flacco Returns to Bengals on 1-Year, $6M Deal

Joe Flacco is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2026 NFL season, agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million, according to multiple reports.

The 41-year-vintage quarterback, who enjoyed a resurgence with the Bengals in the latter part of the 2025 season, will receive $6 million guaranteed, with an additional $3 million available through incentives, NFL Media reported. The agreement comes after the Bengals also signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, a fellow member of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

Flacco’s return was anticipated following his strong performance after being traded to Cincinnati mid-season. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor publicly expressed his desire to have Flacco back in 2026, stating he believes Flacco is a starting-caliber quarterback. “I think it’d be valuable,” Taylor said in January, according to Cleveland.com. “I think he’s a starting quarterback in the NFL. And so I think anytime you’ve experienced that and you’re able to get him back, that’d be great.”

Flacco initially joined the Bengals after a season-opening toe injury sidelined Joe Burrow and Jake Browning struggled in his absence. While Flacco won only one of his six starts for Cincinnati, he led the offense to an average of 27.2 points per game. The Bengals’ defense, however, allowed an average of 34 points per game during that same stretch.

The 2026 season will be Flacco’s 19th in the NFL. Originally drafted 18th overall in 2008 by the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco spent 11 seasons with the team, culminating in a Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, where he was named MVP. He threw for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions across four playoff games that postseason.

After Lamar Jackson replaced him in Baltimore in 2018, Flacco played for the Denver Broncos, Novel York Jets, and Cleveland Browns before landing in Cincinnati. Despite his longevity, Flacco has amassed impressive career statistics, ranking 14th in NFL history with 48,176 passing yards and 21st with 272 touchdown passes. He is also tied with Roger Staubach for second-most road playoff wins in NFL history with eight, trailing only Tom Brady.

Flacco and Burrow both represented the AFC in this year’s Pro Bowl, highlighting the Bengals’ quarterback depth as they prepare for the 2026 season.