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Ben Baby
CINCINNATI — Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco was named as an AFC quarterback in this year’s Pro Bowl Games, the team announced Friday.
It’s the first time in Flacco’s 18-year career that he has been named a Pro Bowler.
Flacco, 41, earned the honor as an alternate ahead of the Pro Bowl competition in Santa Clara, California, next Tuesday. The achievement also bookends an improbable year for the veteran.
At the beginning of the season, Flacco was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. However, he was benched after four games. On Oct. 7, Flacco was traded to the Bengals, who needed a starter after Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe injury.
In the middle of the season, Flacco enjoyed one of his best spells in recent years. He completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He and Burrow finished the season with the same expected points added per dropback (0.11), according to ESPN Research. In Cincinnati, Flacco had a 54.7 QBR, compared with Burrow’s 63.1.
The Pro Bowl honor adds to the other accolades Flacco has earned in his career. He was named Super Bowl XLVII MVP as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, where he started 163 games from 2008 to 2018.
Since then, Flacco has been a viable starting option for several teams, including the Bengals. Once Burrow returned from injury, Flacco became the team’s backup.
Flacco is set to become a free agent this offseason. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he’s open to having Flacco back for 2026. But the veteran has expressed the desire to be a starter once again.
