Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco won’t try to downplay his return to Baltimore.
Flacco was the starting quarterback for the Ravens for 11 seasons before losing his job to Lamar Jackson. Despite playing for five different teams over the following seven seasons—including two stints with the Browns—he has yet to play a game at M&T Bank Stadium.
“I got to play them a couple years ago, but going back to Baltimore is definitely a little bit different story,” he said. “It is somewhat surprising, honestly, because I’ve been gone for a decent amount of time now. So the fact that I haven’t had a chance to go back is a little surprising.”
Flacco last played against the Ravens in 2022, when he was the starting quarterback for the New York Jets in their season opener. He completed 37 of 59 passes for 309 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, but the Ravens dominated the Jets 24–9.
Flacco said that playing the Ravens that year helped him deal with his emotions.
“I definitely think playing them in the past and kind of getting that little bit out of the way ... even though it wasn’t in Baltimore, just from playing the Baltimore Ravens, like getting that out of the way already, will make this a little bit easier,” he said.
But he still acknowledged that there are intense emotions that come with it.
“I know it’s different because we’re going back to Baltimore, but just in terms of playing your old team and the emotions that come with that ... it’s natural to feel a certain way when you’re going against a team that you’re not playing for anymore. I’ve been a part of other players that do that, and you kind of try to act normal, but it is a big deal. You do want to go beat them and it’s a little bit of a difference. So, I think the fact that I’ve done that, been in that kind of environment before, this game will be a little bit more normal because I’ve already done it.”
Flacco recognized the business side of the NFL, but said he still has “nothing but love for the people in that facility and the people in that city.” He also said that at this point in his career, he was able to perceive it as just another division game.
But he also recognized that it would be “cool” to play in that stadium after not having played there since 2018. He said he still has love for the fans, and hoped that they had good memories of his time playing there. At the same time, he acknowledged those fans would still be rooting for the home team.
Sunday’s matchup will be a reunion with his former head coach, John Harbaugh, but also with defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Flacco and Orr played together from 2014-2016. Orr retired in 2017 due to a congenital spine condition, but immediately joined the Ravens’ coaching staff as a defensive analyst.
The 40-year-old Flacco joked that it was probably the first time he will meet a former teammate as a coach, and likely his last. But he had praise for the former linebacker.
“Just [a] super well-liked player, awesome player,” he said. “Unfortunate that he wasn’t able to have a longer career. But obviously he’s right where he wants to be. So, it’s pretty cool.”
Flacco was drafted by the Ravens with the 18th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He won the starting job due to injuries, but led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie. He led the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, winning Super Bowl MVP in a 34–31 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
The Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson out of Louisville with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Flacco initially held on to the starting job, but went down with an injury and was replaced by Jackson. He was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2019; after one year in Denver, he signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets in 2020.
Flacco then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 but was traded back to the Jets, where he remained until 2022. He joined the Browns in 2023, then the Indianapolis Colts in 2024, before returning to the Browns in 2025.
