Joe Flacco joined the Cincinnati Bengals during a challenging moment. His recent stint in Cleveland had frustrated him. His numbers were weak, and the team change came without warning. At 40 years old, few expected him to still have room to redeem himself.
The quarterback recently shared his experience on the Fitz & Whit podcast. Flacco said he felt nervous throwing for the first time with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. His goal was simple: he wanted to prove he still had arm strength and accuracy. In his mind, the first practice was a test.
A veteran under pressure
According to The Sports Rush, Joe Flacco missed one of his first passes to Chase. That throw made him doubt himself. He even thought his new receivers might judge him. On the podcast, he admitted he put too much pressure on himself. Then he breathed, relaxed, and let his mechanics flow. That decision changed everything. Over time, he realized he had to trust his receivers—they could catch anything close.
“I know I’m 40,” Flacco told Andrew Whitworth, “but the first times I threw to Ja’Marr [Chase] and Tee [Higgins], I was a little nervous. I’m like, man, I want them to know…” His teammate interrupted with, “I want them to respect me, damn it.” Flacco replied, “Yes! I wanted to show these guys I could throw it well. I can put it wherever you want.”
The results were clear. His performance improved. He completed crucial passes and led strong drives. Cincinnati came out of the slump and regained competitive life. The connection with the receivers was immediate. That chemistry boosted an offense that had struggled.
Flacco didn’t hide that he’s in the final stage of his career. Still, he remains ambitious. He wants to compete and help the franchise. The possible return of Joe Burrow doesn’t reduce his motivation. The veteran wants to leave his mark on the Bengals. The team still dreams of the playoffs, and Flacco has restored hope to the offense and confidence to the fans.
