Jets' Joe Flacco reunion may be in the cards after latest bold proclamation

The New York Jets' decision to bench Justin Fields and move forward with Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback has left them in even more dire need of both a franchise quarterback and a veteran backup behind him. Could Joe Flacco, who will return to the bench now that Joe Burrow is back in town, be in play?

Flacco, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes against just three interceptions with the Cincinnati Bengals after a midseason trade from the Cleveland Browns, is still looking to play in what would be his age-41 season, and the Jets might be willing to give him a chance to be a Week 1 starter.

According to the man himself, Flacco envisions being a starter elsewhere in 2025, claiming that his stint in Cincinnati should be enough to convince NFL decision-makers that he can still get it done at the NFL level. As is always the case, bad teams will be in the market for quarterbacks this offseason.

Even if the Jets use a first-round pick on a player like Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, or Dante Moore, they need a veteran behind him. Flacco returning to the Jets once again after his impressive Bengals stint could be one way for the Jets to build a more sustainable winner.

Jets may consider Joe Flacco reunion after strong 2025 with Bengals

Flacco started nine games in parts of three seasons with the Jets. While he won just one of those starts and completed just 57% of his passes, his 14 touchdown passes against six interceptions made him one of the best statistical quarterbacks of the Adam Gase and Robert Saleh eras before moving to the Browns.

With Taylor a free agent, the market for veteran bridge quarterbacks isn't overly inspiring. Unless Kyler Murray shakes free from the Arizona Cardinals, the Jets may need to do some bargain bin shopping. Names like Marcus Mariota, Gardner Minshew, and Jimmy Garoppolo may be in the mix as a 2026 backup.

Flacco may not be too warm and fuzzy as a mentor for young quarterbacks, but if you can give him an offensive line (Cleveland could not) and one good wide receiver, you are guaranteed to at least have a viable passing game. With Fields, the Jets got that exactly three times out of nine this season.

Flacco can still sling it at a respectable clip in the NFL, and his football brain allows him to get the ball out quickly. After a year of watching Fields play, the Jets would welcome any quarterback with this particular skillset, no matter how old he is.