One of the most recognizable Bengals foes from the last decade-plus may be their starting quarterback Sunday in Green Bay. Reports said Cincinnati swung a trade Tuesday for Browns backup quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Bengals made the bolt-of-lightning move to get a proven NFL veteran who can help facilitate getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers.
He would be making his 196th NFL start (a career-high 22 against the Bengals) as he becomes the first 40-year-old Bengal ever in his 18th season.
When Flacco won the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award for coming off the bench to lead the Browns into the playoffs, he was 10 years removed from being Super Bowl MVP for the 2012 Ravens.
He started this year's opener in Cleveland, where the Bengals won, 17-16, as Flacco hit 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown to go with two interceptions.
Flacco started the next three games that included a 13-10 win over the Packers 16 days ago before he was replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel. But he's got the experience head coach Zac Taylor seeks as he looks to revive last year's No. 1 passing offense in the wake of Joe Burrow's injury.
On Monday, Taylor said he was re-evaluating the quarterbacks on his roster after Jake Browning threw three interceptions.
It's believed to be the first trade the Bengals have ever made with their Battle of Ohio rival in the 58 seasons of the franchise. Reports said the Bengals gave up a fifth-rounder for Flacco and a sixth.
The Bengals acquired QB Joe Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick from the Cleveland Browns for Cincinnati's '26 fifth-round draft choice.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates during Super Bowl XLVII football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens won the game, 34-31. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco looks for a receiver in the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, in Denver. The 49ers defeated the Broncos, 24-15. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) celebrates during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. The Browns won 37-20. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) drops back to pass in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) calls a play during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Oct. 1, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Michael Owens via AP)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws a touchdown pass to Jerome Ford during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco warms up as snow falls before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes from the pocket during the first half of NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Denver. (Eric Bakke via AP)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) looks to throw the ball during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (19) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday Nov. 10, 2016, Baltimore. The Ravens defeated the Browns 28-7. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco walks onto the field before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. The Browns defeated the Jets 37-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates after throwing a touchdown an AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday January 20, 2013 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Baltimore won 28-13 to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco waits for his introduction before a NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore, Md., Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) reacts as he throws a pass as he warms up prior to an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Michael Owens via AP)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco rushes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Baltimore, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) drops back to pass against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Houston. The Browns defeated the Texans 36-22. (Cooper Neill via AP)
