Father Time Flacco: An Unexpected Journey

It's 2008, and the NFL Draft is heating up. The Baltimore Ravens are on the clock, and with the 18th pick in the first round they make a bold move, selecting quarterback Joe Flacco out of the University of Delaware.

Flacco wasn't a household name at the time. Originally a backup at the University of Pittsburgh, sitting behind Tyler Palko, Flacco transferred to Delaware for more playing time. At 6-foot-6 with a cannon for an arm, he certainly had the physical tools, but questions remained: Could he perform at the NFL level?

Flacco silenced the doubters quickly. From 2008 to mid-2018, he was the face of the Ravens' offense, throwing for 38,245 yards, 212 touchdowns, and posting a respectable 61.7% completion rate with an 84.1 passer rating. But early playoff struggles left some wondering if he was truly built for the big moments. In his first two playoff runs (2008 and 2009), Flacco had a rough ratio of 1 touchdown to 6 interceptions.

Then came the rise of "January Joe." In 2010, the switch flipped. Over the course of 11 postseason games, he threw 24 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions, including an unforgettable 2012 Super Bowl run where he tossed 11 touchdowns and zero picks. Flacco became a playoff legend, leading the Ravens to six postseason appearances, three AFC Championship games, and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in 2012. The big arm from Delaware had become a clutch performer on the NFL’s biggest stage.

But after 11 seasons with the Ravens, the end of an era came in 2019. Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round pick, but his time in Denver was cut short by a neck injury after just 8 games. His stats were pedestrian—1,822 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions—and the Broncos stumbled to a 2-6 record with him under center. After undergoing neck surgery in April 2020, the writing seemed to be on the wall: Was this the end of Joe Flacco’s career?

Not so fast. In May 2020, Flacco signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets to back up Sam Darnold. Despite limited opportunities and a winless five-game stint in 2020, Flacco wasn’t ready to walk away just yet. In 2021, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles, backing up Jalen Hurts, but was quickly traded back to the Jets mid-season after an injury to Zach Wilson.

The Jets re-signed Flacco in 2022, where he started the first three games of the season before falling to third string. It seemed like the twilight of a long career, with many wondering if Flacco would finally call it quits.

But in November 2023, another chapter began. The Cleveland Browns, reeling from a season-ending injury to Deshaun Watson, signed Flacco to their practice squad. By Week 13, he was named the starter, and the Browns responded. Flacco led Cleveland to two straight wins and secured a playoff berth, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 250 yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his first five games with a new team. Though the playoff magic didn't last, Flacco’s resurgence earned him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. The 39-year-old was proving he still had plenty left in the tank.

Now, it’s 2024. Joe Flacco’s career has spanned 16 seasons, including a Super Bowl victory and a legendary postseason resume. While he was never named to a Pro Bowl, Flacco holds the distinction of being the quarterback with the most career passing yards and touchdowns who’s never been to one. He was even invited in 2015 but declined the honor.

In March 2024, Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts to back up rising star Anthony Richardson. But as fate would have it, by Week 4 Richardson went down with an injury, and Flacco stepped in, delivering yet another win. That was followed up by a heartbreaking loss in Week 5, where Joe threw for 359 yards and 3 touchdowns. The ageless wonder keeps defying expectations, continuing his incredible journey in the NFL.

Joe Flacco might not be done just yet; despite what Head Coach Shane Steichen says to the media. When asked who the starter will be when Anthony Richardson is healthy, Steichen insists Anthony Richardson is their starting quarterback. The is the classic proper response to a media question, but no doubt the thoughts linger in his mind.

Let’s compare the two quarterbacks. This is now Richardson’s second season starting only 8 total games due to injury each season. In those 8 games, Richardson, now 22 years old, has thrown for 2,616 yards and has a 55.3% completion rate. He has thrown for 13 touchdowns, and has 15 Interceptions, including a passer rating of 74.3. He has also rushed for 277 yards and 5 touchdowns. By comparison, the 39-year-old Flacco’s last 8 games, (6 with Cleveland and 2 with Indianapolis) he has thrown for 2,450 yards and has a 64.4% completion rate. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns, and has 10 interceptions, including a passer rating of 94.4. The numbers don’t lie ─ Flacco is outplaying the younger signal caller.

But what about this year? The here and now for the Colts? In 4 starts, Richardson has thrown for 654 yards, 3 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and a completion percentage of 50.6%. Flacco in 2 games has thrown for 527 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions with a 70% completion rate. Is there a controversy brewing in Indy?

What happens next for the Colts? Anthony Richardson is on a 4-year contract worth $33,994,030. He makes a base salary of $2,295,183 this season, While Joe Flacco is on yet another 1-year contract, but his contract including guaranteed money is $8.7 million. No doubt Richardson is the starter for the Colts and will hopefully avoid injury and perform better with playing time, while the journeyman backup will shine when needed. It has been great seeing Flacco perform at this level, 16 years after being drafted.

But eventually, Father Time will call on Joe Flacco, and it will be time to stop playing in the NFL. Flacco, who in two seasons as a Blue Hen, set an incredible 20 school records, including completions in a game (40) and season (331), consecutive passes thrown without an interception (174), passing yards in a season (4,263), 300-yard passing games (11), and career completion percentage (63.4%). He also ranks No. 2 all-time at Delaware with 7,046 career passing yards. It will be a sad day for Delaware fans and NFL enthusiasts alike when Flacco calls it quits.

It has certainly been a rewarding career, but still an unexpected journey, for Joe Flacco.