Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns’ QB Race Ends – At 40, Joe Flacco Named Week 1 Starter in Veteran Return

Stefanski ends the quarterback battle, choosing experience over youth for the Cincinnati opener.

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Browns have officially named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback, ending weeks of speculation and training camp competition. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the decision ahead of the preseason finale, sticking to his promise that the call would come before the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 7.

Stefanski’s choice ends a quarterback battle that featured offseason acquisition Kenny Pickett, rookie draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and lingering uncertainty around Deshaun Watson. While the competition generated buzz throughout camp, the Browns turned to the proven veteran.

Breaking: The Browns are naming Joe Flacco as their starting QB for Week 1, sources tell @AdamSchefter.

Get breaking news alerts from Adam Schefter through the ESPN app: https://t.co/Hjq6YDZRaO pic.twitter.com/RjQcYxnYyM
— ESPN (@espn) August 18, 2025

A Familiar Leader for the Browns’ Offense

Flacco’s leadership is nothing new to Cleveland. Signed in April 2025, he had already steadied the Browns in late 2023, starting five straight games from Week 13 and delivering a 4-1 record. His defining moment came in Week 17, when he led the team past the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football to secure Cleveland’s first playoff berth since 2020. Last year, he was with the Indianapolis Colts under a one-year contract and returned to the Browns this season.

Flacco, now entering his 18th NFL season, built his case with steady performances throughout training camp. He practiced extensively with the first unit, taking reps in joint practices against the Panthers and Eagles and showing command against veteran defenses. Although he sat out the first two preseason games, Stefanski signaled he wanted to solidify the position early to prepare the team for the opener.

The #Browns are naming QB Joe Flacco as their starter, the end of a training camp competition that never really was.

Flacco quickly emerged as QB1, while the others battled injuries. The player who led them to the playoffs in 2023 is back. pic.twitter.com/oJPj0CzhDe
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2025

“The last couple of weeks, honestly, it’s been pretty good for me,” Flacco said on Aug. 13. “I’ve gotten to get more reps and get comfortable and feel like I’m doing things at a pretty high level.” (via Cleveland Browns official website)

Cleveland’s retooled quarterback room is now anchored by a veteran who brings Super Bowl experience and invaluable perspective from years across different teams and locker rooms. Stefanski praised Flacco’s steady approach and professionalism, traits that set him apart in camp.

“Joe’s the same guy that he was then,” Stefanski said on Aug. 13. “He’s the same guy every single day. I think that’s one of the things you admire about Joe is how he approaches his business. He’s done a really nice job in camp. He’s also done a really nice job just providing leadership to the quarterback room, to the offense and to the football team.” (via Cleveland Browns official website)

Browns name Joe Flacco as starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/uohdSwfif5
— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2025

Mandatory Image Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

2025

Cleveland Browns

Joe Flacco

quarterback

Rudra Dubey

nfl

mma

I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.