Total Pro Sports
As Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel have been engaged in a battle for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job, the team decided to end all speculation by making its decision now.
With Deshaun Watson likely to miss all of 2025 after re-rupturing his Achilles, the Browns moved quickly to rebuild their quarterback room. GM Andrew Berry brought back Flacco and acquired Kenny Pickett via trade before drafting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders a few months ago.
It was clear who was going to be the man going forward.
The Browns have named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback to begin the regular season.
BREAKING: The #Browns have named Joe Flacco as their starting QB for week one. pic.twitter.com/DnfKMznjnO
— JPA (@jasrifootball) August 18, 2025
Cleveland’s busy quarterback room has had one of the most competitive position battles in the NFL. Flacco had to beat out some young guns to earn the starting role. Insiders made it clear that Joe Flacco and Shedeur were standing out throughout camp.
One thing that has remained consistent is that Flacco continually held the edge in the race to be named QB1, consistently atop the unofficial depth charts throughout the preseason, followed by Pickett at QB2 and then Gabriel, Sanders, Huntley, and Deshaun Watson all listed at QB3.
Flacco was the Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback for 11 seasons, notably winning a Super Bowl with the team in 2012.
His professionalism was on full display throughout camp as Flacco appeared to take shots at Shedeur Sanders when mentioning TikTok dances.
The Browns announced Monday that quarterback Joe Flacco will be the starter in Week 1 when the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
His veteran presence and history with the team certainly won him over.
He’s had success in Stefanski’s system, leading the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. He went 4-0 in December with four straight 300-yard games.
