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Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco said other teams were "dumb" for not signing him prior to re-signing with the team on Tuesday (March 24).
Flacco, 41, was acquired by the Bengals last season in a rare trade with the AFC North Division rival Cleveland Browns, having made 10 starts, including four for Cincinnati in the absence of the injured Joe Burrow.
"Believe me, I wish I was a guy somewhere," Flacco said while addressing reporters via ESPN. "And I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy."
"Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere, yeah, it pisses me off a little bit. But at the same time, I'm very happy to be here," he added.
Flacco's new contract is reportedly worth $6 million but could be worth up to $9 million with incentives. The veteran quarterback replaced Jake Browning -- who signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason -- as the interim starter as Burrow continued to heal from a turf toe injury, throwing for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions on 158 of 256 passing, while going 1-5 as the Bengals' starter.
Flacco spent the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2018, which including winning Super Bowl XLVII MVP, before multiple stints with the Browns (2023, 2025), as well as the Denver Broncos
(2019), New York Jets (2020, 2021-2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2021) and Indianapolis Colts (2024).