Joe Flacco Has Honest Admission About His Trade From Browns
The Cleveland Browns shocked their locker room and the league when they traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals just days after benching the veteran quarterback in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The move came unexpectedly, even for head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Few inside the organization anticipated the front office would act so quickly on a deal that sent a respected leader to a division rival.
Flacco addressed the trade openly when asked about the sudden transition to Cincinnati.
“So honestly, like when this ended up happening, I think there was a little bit of excitement from her (wife Dana). Yeah, sure, looked at each other and were like, ‘What the hell?’ But I think it was ultimately excitement about what the future holds,” Flacco said.
Joe Flacco on:
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) October 10, 2025
* Drive down from Cleveland
* Wife Dana’s support
* His hope to help Bengals stay afloat in AFC North pic.twitter.com/EkDJ8CJPFH
His response reflected both surprise and optimism about the next chapter of his career with his new team.
The 40-year-old had been benched following a 1-3 start where he threw six interceptions and lost two fumbles.
He served as the backup in London Week 5, but with Cleveland committed to developing younger quarterbacks, both organizations found mutual benefit in the arrangement.
For the first time in franchise history, the Browns traded with the Bengals, giving Cincinnati an immediate veteran option under center.
Flacco’s departure leaves Cleveland’s quarterback room in transition, featuring rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, practice squad player Bailey Zappe, and Deshaun Watson recovering from a re-ruptured Achilles.
New Research Proves Steelers' Mike Tomlin Literally Owns The Browns
Many Steelers fans often accuse Tomlin of failing to have his team ready against lesser opponents, but that narrative does not hold up when it comes to the Browns. Since Tomlin took over as head coach in 2007, the Steelers have dominated Cleveland in nearly every way imaginable. Whether at home or on the road, Tomlin’s teams have consistently found ways to outplay the Browns, regardless of the circumstances or roster differences. The intensity, preparation, and execution Pittsburgh shows against its rival have been a defining feature of Tomlin’s tenure.
Steelers media veteran Bob Pompeani recently revealed a remarkable stat that underscores just how dominant Tomlin has been against the Browns. According to Pompeani’s research, Tomlin holds one of the most lopsided records of any active coach against a single opponent, further cementing his ownership of Cleveland over the years.
The data not only highlights Tomlin’s success in divisional play, but also silences critics who question his readiness for so-called easier games. As the Steelers prepare to face the Browns once again, that dominance will be put to the test, but if history is any indication, Pittsburgh’s head coach knows exactly how to handle business.
The one glaring blunder in this otherwise impressive record is the Tomlin playoff loss to the then Baker Mayfield-led Browns. The Steelers fell 48-37 in that game, which started off disastrously as Pittsburgh quickly found themselves down four touchdowns in the first quarter. The team fought back and did everything possible to get back into the game, but ultimately they came up short. That matchup was an important moment for both Ben Roethlisberger and Tomlin. For Tomlin, that loss still hurts his legacy.
Still, that loss does not erase the fact that Tomlin has won 21 straight regular season home games against the Browns. That streak stands regardless of how strong or weak Cleveland has been during that time. Dominating an in-division rival at that level is rare and impressive, and it highlights Tomlin’s consistency and preparation when it comes to Cleveland.
Steelers' History Predicts Easy Win For Pittsburgh Over The Browns
If history is any indication, the Steelers coming out of the bye week and returning home to face the Browns should have a significant advantage. Tomlin’s record and these statistics suggest this game is primed to be another strong showing for Pittsburgh, giving fans plenty of reason to be confident in their team.
The Steelers will be facing rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second start in the NFL. He is coming off a tough loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but showed flashes of efficiency. Gabriel will present some challenges, but this Steelers' defense should be able to make life difficult for the rookie on Sunday.
What do you believe the final score of the Week 6 contest between the Browns and Steelers will be?
