After a vintage performance in a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco secured the starting job with the Cleveland Browns for the remainder of the season. But it turns out that there was a possibility that Flacco wouldn’t play this season and possibly retire.
ESPN’s analyst Ryan Clark revealed during his appearance on Get Up that Flacco actually interviewed for a spot on Inside the NFL show. According to Clark, who serves as one of Inside the NFL hosts, the veteran quarterback wasn’t offered the gig.
“I’m glad we didn’t take him,” Clark added.
Flacco himself previously said that he didn’t believe he would get a chance to play in the NFL again. After starting four games with the New York Jets last season, the 38-year-old spent the entire summer and more than half of the season without a team. Only after the Browns lost their starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson, to a season-ending injury in late November did Flacco receive a call to join the team’s practice squad.
The chances of Flacco playing were still slim as the Browns were committed to having rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as Watson’s replacement. But Thompson-Robinson ended up suffering a concussion ahead of the Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Rams, opening the door for Flacco to take over.
While he delivered a shaky performance against the Rams, Flacco showed why he has a Super Bowl MVP award on his resume against the Jags. He completed 26 of 45 passes while throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns.
Flacco’s performance in the Jaguars game was enough for the Browns’ head coach, Kevin Stefanski, to make him the starter until the remainder of the season.
“Joe’s been in big games,” Stefanski said on Sunday. “So, feel comfortable with him leading the football team.”
