On Friday, the Indianapolis Colts officially confirmed the signing of quarterback Joe Flacco, who was awarded the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year title. While the specifics of the agreement were not disclosed, reports from the previous week indicated that Flacco’s one-year contract, designated as a backup to starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, could reach a value of $8.1 million.
Previously known as the Super Bowl MVP in 2013 during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco had been out of the league until last season. He was signed to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 20 due to a series of quarterback injuries. Eventually, Flacco, at 38 years old, became the starter for the Browns, leading them to victory in four out of five regular-season games, all consecutively. During this stint, he accumulated 1,616 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, albeit with eight interceptions, completing slightly over 60 percent of his passes.
However, despite Flacco’s efforts, the Browns, who secured the runner-up position in the AFC North, suffered a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Flacco contributed with 307 passing yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice.
On the other hand, the Indianapolis Colts, with a record of 9-8, missed out on the postseason for the third consecutive year, ending just one game behind the Texans in the AFC South standings.
Flacco, boasting a career spanning 16 NFL seasons, has amassed 43,936 passing yards, placing him 18th on the all-time list, along with 245 touchdowns and 155 interceptions.
