Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco intends to play in 2025, marking his 18th NFL season. The 40-year-old signal-caller spent his first 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, who selected him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Since then, Flacco has played for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts, transitioning into a journeyman backup role in the latter stages of his career.
Flacco is hoping to join another team this offseason. One NFL insider believes San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could be a potential suitor.
"The Browns have privately told people they made a mistake letting Flacco go, though they really had little choice with Deshaun Watson returning from injury," wrote long-time writer and analyst Tony Pauline, now with Sportskeeda.
"I'm told to keep an eye on the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots as suitors for Flacco in the offseason, as all would look for a veteran backup."
With quarterback Brock Purdy expected to remain the 49ers' starter—and likely set for a lucrative contract extension—Shanahan may look to free agency to bolster his depth chart. Both Brandon Allen and Josh Dobbs, who backed up Purdy during the 2024 season, are scheduled to become free agents in March.
This wouldn't be the first time Shanahan has shown interest in Flacco. The 49ers hosted the quarterback for a visit in 2021, and Shanahan was eager to bring him to San Francisco.
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"I don't think people have ever given Flacco enough credit for his whole career," Shanahan said last year. "I think he's been one of the better quarterbacks of the last 20 years. I thought he was unbelievable in Baltimore.
"He's a guy that we tried to get here two years ago, hard, before he went to the [Eagles and then the] Jets. Flacco has always been that type of thrower. He's always been tough hanging in the pocket. He's got elite arm talent and he's a smart guy who's been around a lot systems.
"His skill set never left. It's just sometimes you don't get that opportunity, you're not a starter anymore, you don't get in the best situation. But it has always kind of blew my mind on a number of places that he was going to be available at this time of year because he's always had some unbelievable talent."
Flacco started six of the eight games he appeared in last season with the Colts, completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions during his time in Indianapolis.
Shanahan's previous pursuit of Flacco, combined with the 49ers' need for a seasoned backup, makes San Francisco an intriguing possibility for the veteran quarterback's next chapter.
H/t to Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated for the find.