The Cincinnati Bengals have had a lot of drama at their quarterback position in the last year. Joe Burrow’s early-season injury and Jake Browning’s struggles led the Bengals to trade for Joe Flacco in a rare intra-division QB trade.

In the wake of that trade, Flacco was great for the Bengals, and while they didn’t win much (just one game in six starts), he was a net-positive for the Bengals. The 41-year-old QB has been in the NFL for a long time and could very well retire this offseason.

But, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bengals got some good news on Flacco’s future in the NFL, as the veteran quarterback, coming off his first career Pro Bowl appearance, plans to return for the 2026 season.

Bengals get good news on Joe Flacco’s retirement

“Flacco, who appeared in his first Pro Bowl in his 18th season, intends to play against in 2026 at the age of 41,” Russini writes.

This is some good news for the Bengals, as keeping Flacco is on the docket, especially with how injury-prone Burrow has been in his NFL career.

Even if he plays the full season, having Flacco as insurance behind him would be a smart thing to have in reserve.

While the Bengals are getting some good news on Flacco with this report from Russini, the 41-year-old quarterback could still decide to leave for a better chance to start.

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It’s not out of the question that Flacco comes back, but if he’s looking for a starting job, or at least a chance to start, a team with a greater need at quarterback would make some sense.

The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and any other QB-needy team could be in the market for Flacco this offseason.

While there’s not a clear indication of the Bengals’ intention, re-signing Flacco would be a positive for the Bengals.

He meshed very well with the team this past season after being acquired in a trade with the Browns. The Bengals, after the success with Flacco in 2025, might want him back, which makes this report a good one for Cincinnati.

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