Joe Flacco Earns First Pro Bowl Nod With Bengals

Joe Flacco’s football journey has been anything but ordinary, but 2026 marks a milestone that even his most ardent fans might not have seen coming. On January 30, 2026, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was officially added to the AFC roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, earning his first career Pro Bowl selection after 18 seasons in the NFL. For a player who’s hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and engineered playoff magic, this belated nod is both a surprise and a testament to his enduring resilience.

Flacco’s selection adds a twist to the Pro Bowl narrative this season. Not only does it mark his first appearance at the league’s annual all-star event, but it also means that the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals—Ohio rivals and Flacco’s two teams in 2025—will each send more quarterbacks to the Pro Bowl than the Baltimore Ravens, the franchise where Flacco made his name. In a quirky bit of NFL trivia, both the quarterback who started the Browns’ 2025 campaign (Flacco) and the one who finished it (rookie Shedeur Sanders) will be representing the AFC in San Francisco.

The 2026 Pro Bowl Games are set for Tuesday, February 3, at the Moscone Center South Building in San Francisco, coinciding with the week and site of the Super Bowl for the first time. The event, which features an AFC vs. NFC flag football game, will be coached by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC). Fans can catch the action on ESPN, Disney XD, and ESPN Deportes, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff at 8 p.m. The move to bring the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl city adds a layer of excitement, blending the league’s brightest stars with the biggest week in football.

Flacco’s path to the Pro Bowl this season is a winding one. At 41 years old, he began the 2025 season as the Browns’ starting quarterback, but after four games, he was benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel ahead of a Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Despite the early setback, his stats at the time were notable: he ranked second in the league in pass attempts (160) and fourth in completions (93), even as his completion percentage (58.1%), yards (815), and passer rating (60.3) lagged behind league leaders. The Browns, in a move that would become historic, traded Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2026 fifth-round pick on October 7, marking the first-ever trade between the two Ohio franchises.

Once in Cincinnati, Flacco’s impact was immediate. With Joe Burrow sidelined by injury and Jake Browning struggling, Flacco stepped into the starting role from Week 6 through Week 12. During that stretch, he ranked second in the NFL in completions (154), tied for third in touchdown passes (13), and fifth in passing yards (1,636). His performance peaked in Week 9, when he torched the Chicago defense for a career-high 470 passing yards. Two weeks earlier, he posted a 342-yard, three-touchdown outing in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers—proof that even late in his career, Flacco could still deliver fireworks.

Flacco’s final stat line for the 2025 regular season: 13 games played, 10 starts, 251 completions on 416 attempts, 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. It’s a resume that, while not gaudy by today’s quarterback standards, underscores his reliability and adaptability, especially given the midseason team switch and the Bengals’ injury woes.

Yet, the Bengals’ record during Flacco’s tenure as starter tells a more sobering tale. Cincinnati went just 1-5 in his six starts, underscoring the challenges the team faced beyond the quarterback position. Still, Flacco’s leadership and ability to step into a new system on short notice didn’t go unnoticed by coaches and league observers alike.

Flacco’s 2025 campaign included one more quirky footnote: in the Bengals’ Week 18 loss to the Browns, he played a single snap, converting a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak for a two-yard gain and a first down. It was a small but gritty moment that encapsulated his willingness to do whatever the team needed, even as the season wound down.

For the Bengals, Flacco’s Pro Bowl selection is a bright spot in what was otherwise a turbulent season. He joins wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as Cincinnati’s representatives, giving the Bengals a trio of offensive stars at the all-star festivities. On the Browns’ side, the Pro Bowl roster also features defensive standouts Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, ensuring that both Ohio teams will be well-represented in San Francisco.

The Pro Bowl’s relocation to the Super Bowl city and its new flag football format have injected fresh energy into an event that has sometimes struggled for relevance. With Hall of Fame legends Jerry Rice and Steve Young at the helm as coaches, the stage is set for a showcase that blends competition, fun, and star power. And for Flacco, the spotlight is both a reward and a bit of vindication after a career spent largely in the shadows of more decorated contemporaries.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among the league’s best, especially at this stage of my career,” Flacco said, according to ESPN. “I’ve always played for the love of the game and to help my team win, but this is definitely special.”

Flacco’s journey from Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens to midseason trade chip and now first-time Pro Bowler is a testament to perseverance. While his numbers may never land him in Canton, his story resonates with fans who appreciate grit, professionalism, and the ability to seize opportunity—no matter when it comes knocking.

As the AFC and NFC squads prepare for their flag football showdown, all eyes will be on the veteran quarterback who, after nearly two decades in the league, finally gets his moment under the Pro Bowl lights. With the game set for February 3 in San Francisco, Flacco and his fellow stars are ready to give fans a show—and maybe rewrite a few more narratives along the way.