After missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season, there are bound to be big changes coming to the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. Of course, by opting to stick with the bulk of their coaching staff, the Bengals may be operating with the assumption that they’ll improve with a bit more injury luck, like not losing Joe Burrow for nine starts.
Nevertheless, the Bengals have some big decisions to make, like on the future of All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whose contract is set to expire. Another Bengals Pro Bowler with an expiring contract is quarterback Joe Flacco. Of the two, the latter appears more likely to return to Cincinnati in 2026.
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals would like to retain Flacco, as they believe he’s a “valuable backup who can be a viable starting option” should Burrow face more injury problems. However, as Fowler notes, “Flacco will have options” as a free agent ready to enter the open market.
Flacco, 41, ended up starting 10 games (four with the Browns, six with the Bengals) last season. If he sticks around in Cincinnati, there’s a good chance that number will decrease in 2026. Flacco, who’s surely entering one of his final seasons, may want to land in a place where he feels he has a better chance to see the field, possibly as part of a starting QB competition.
In an offseason that features seemingly one quarterback projected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Flacco might have some luck joining a team where he’s given a chance to compete for a starting role. That obviously won’t be happening in Cincinnati, but few other locations offer such a loaded cast of pass-catchers, which helps Flacco’s chances of performing well if/when he does see the field.
Related: Cincinnati Bengals Reportedly Ready to Move on From All-Pro
