The dress rehearsal is complete, and now the stage is set for Week 1 of the 2025 season.
The Browns will host the Bengals at Huntington Bank Field for the season opener, and when they run onto the field for the first time, Flacco will be leading the charge in his 18th NFL season.
“Being a starter and my responsibility to the team, for me it’s just about being who I am and being a professional,” Flacco said. “Carrying myself that way, putting in the work, leading by example. I think if I can do those things, then it’s a good start.”
Throughout the evaluation process of the quarterbacks, the coaching staff highlighted the level of experience Flacco brought to the quarterback position, and his ability to instill confidence in his teammates around him.
Through 18 years as an NFL quarterback, Flacco has experienced a plethora of scenarios. He’s been in different offensive schemes, faced a multitude of defenses and experienced the highs and lows of an NFL season. He’s been the starting quarterback – earning 191 starts of 196 games played – and led NFL teams to success as he has a 105-86 record as a starting quarterback.
“I think we’re really lucky to have a guy that’s been through a lot, been through all those battles and has the battle scars to prove it leading the football team into Week 1,” Stefanski said. “I think Joe is somebody that gives our football team, our offensive line confidence, again because of that experience. And then I think he has performed well. Players are the biggest critics of each other; they get to see their teammates in practice, they’ve seen Joe operate, they’ve seen what he’s capable of and I think they certainly understand that he’s somebody that can lead us into this season.”
The accolades – from Super Bowl champion and 2012 Super Bowl MVP to 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year – provide perspective on his tenured NFL career and allow teammates to rally behind Flacco in between the lines.
Teammates on both sides of the ball see that confidence and demeanor from Flacco. DE Myles Garrett highlighted the composure Flacco has demonstrated out on the field over the course of his career, and how as a defense, they are prepared to support him as the starting quarterback. Second-year wide receiver Jamari Thrash sees how Flacco commands the offense, as he both wants and expects the receivers to get to their spots based on the defensive coverage in order to make the completion.
Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will serve as the backup to Flacco for the season, uses his opportunities in the quarterback meeting rooms or the practice field to ask questions, learn and develop a high level of communication with Flacco. And through those interactions and watching Flacco command the offense both on the practice field and on game day, Gabriel has picked up on qualities of being a tenured NFL quarterback.
“I think what I appreciate most about Joe is just his ability to be so focused and also make it look so easy. His calm demeanor is something I appreciate, not only in a quarterback but also just a teammate. I think you see that kind of infiltrate into the huddle to all the guys around him,” Gabriel said. “I’ve appreciated just all his knowledge. I think he shares that through his reps and talking through his reps but asking certain questions just to figure out how he thinks. I’m always tuned in when he speaks, just because the experience is there for a lot of the guys to appreciate Joe. I think that he’s ready for the moment and he’s a guy who’s done it, so it’ll be a lot of fun to continue to learn from him.”
With his earned role, as well as being named one of the five captains for the season, Flacco understands the level of importance of instilling that confidence in the other 10 offensive players on the field.
“I think giving confidence to guys is something that you always strive to do as a player, as a quarterback and as a leader, and there’s obviously different ways you do that,” Flacco said. “But I think when you take the field on Sunday, the goal is that we can all look to our right and our left and have confidence in the guy next to us and that’s what makes good teams. So, the more guys that we can get feeling like that and holding up their end of the bargain, the better we will be.”
The training camp quarterback competition has concluded, and the Browns are turning the page to the beginning of the regular season with Flacco at the helm of the offense. The hopes are high for the Browns heading into the 2025 season, centered around the desire to improve and return to a level of success they believe is achievable. Through a re-vamped offensive system, a re-dedication to defensive takeaways and an overall improved level of intensity, the Browns have laid the foundation for their regular season.
And through it all, the Browns see Flacco as the best fit to be the man under center and the one to run the Browns’ offense in 2025.
“I think Joe’s role as the starter is one that gives everybody around him confidence and he has the ability to elevate the play around him,” Rees said. “He does not need to overstretch what we’re asking him to do because he will bring out the best in the players around him by operating as he is. So, when you look at a guy that can make others around him better, that is one of the biggest compliments you can give a quarterback. And that’s one of the biggest reasons we’re excited to have Joe leading us out of the tunnel Week 1.”