Bengals bring back 41-year-old Joe Flacco to back up Joe Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals added cardinal extent down Joe Burrow connected Wednesday.

The Bengals announced that they re-signed 41-year-old backmost Joe Flacco to a one-year deal. The declaration is for $6 million, but is worthy up to $9 cardinal with incentives, according to ESPN.

"I emotion the building," Flacco told the squad website. "I enjoyed being there, and I’m excited astir being backmost with the fellas."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cincinnati Bengals backmost Joe Flacco warms up earlier a crippled against the Buffalo Bills astatine Highmark Stadium successful Orchard Park, New York, connected Dec. 7, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)

The Bengals acquired Flacco aft helium was benched by the Cleveland Browns aft 4 starts. Burrow was wounded astatine the time, and Jake Browning, who was the backup earlier Flacco arrived, had underwhelmed.

Flacco made six starts for the Bengals and played well, contempt the squad having a 1-5 grounds successful that span. He completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and the Bengals discourtesy averaged much than 27 points per game.

Making Flacco’s show much impressive, helium played done a sprained AC associated successful his enarthrosis with the Bengals.

Flacco was looking to find a starting occupation successful escaped agency, but aft not getting one, helium struggled with the world that helium mightiness not play astatine all.

COWBOYS STAR DAK PRESCOTT'S EX POSTS ABOUT 'GROWTH' DAYS AFTER COUPLE SPLIT BEFORE WEDDING

Cincinnati Bengals backmost Joe Flacco (16) warms up earlier the crippled against the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

"I don't cognize what Plan A was. It's pugnacious to benignant of accidental precisely what that looked like, truthful you benignant of conscionable person to spell with the travel a small bit," Flacco said. "I person bully feelings there. The hardest happening for maine is astir apt coming to grips with the information that I mightiness not play."

The seasoned backmost didn’t privation a repetition of past play with the Browns, erstwhile helium was benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel aft 4 games.

"I felt similar I had to beryllium cautious with immoderate definite decisions. I don't privation to beryllium successful different concern wherever I'm going and playing 4 games similar I did past twelvemonth successful Cleveland. I was a small spot tense astir that for immoderate reason, and benignant of getting thrown nether the bus. I deliberation determination was a clip to beryllium that guy, but I don't cognize if I was consenting to bash that. It conscionable felt close successful the gut," Flacco said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Cincinnati Bengals backmost Joe Flacco (16) runs disconnected the tract earlier a tract extremity effort successful the 4th fourth of the NFL Week 7 crippled betwixt the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers astatine Paycor Stadium successful downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, connected Oct. 16, 2025. The Bengals won 33-31. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Flacco, astatine 41 years old, is the oldest subordinate to ever play for the Bengals.

He is 14th connected the all-time passing yards database and conscionable 1,824 yards distant from 50,000.

In a cleanable satellite for the Bengals, Flacco ne'er steps connected the tract due to the fact that that would mean Burrow remains steadfast each season. However, if Burrow gets injured, they tin spot that they person a susceptible backup who tin pb the discourtesy astatine a precocious level.  

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.