Joe Flacco is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college football at the University of Delaware. In addition to the Colts and Ravens, Flacco has also played for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns.
1963: Jim Martin wins NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Jim Martin won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 1963, becoming the oldest player to receive the honor until Joe Flacco won it in 2024.
January 16, 1985: Joe Flacco is Born
Joe Flacco was born on January 16, 1985, in Audubon, New Jersey.
1987: Doug Flutie's playoff start
Doug Flutie started a playoff game in 1987. This start, along with his 1999 playoff start, created the longest gap between playoff starts in NFL history.
1995: Highest Drafted Player from Delaware since Steve McNair
Joe Flacco's selection in the 2008 NFL draft made him the highest-drafted player from the University of Delaware since Steve McNair was picked third overall in 1995.
1999: Doug Flutie's playoff start
Doug Flutie started a playoff game in 1999. This start, along with his 1987 playoff start, created the longest gap between playoff starts in NFL history.
2003: High School Graduation and College Recruitment
Joe Flacco graduated from Audubon High School in 2003 and was regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, ranked as the No. 39 quarterback prospect in his class.
2003: Redshirted at Pittsburgh
Joe Flacco redshirted his freshman year with the Pittsburgh Panthers football team in 2003.
2004: Backup Quarterback at Pittsburgh
Joe Flacco served as a backup quarterback at the University of Pittsburgh in 2004.
2004: Start of Previous Consecutive Playoff Misses
The Ravens experienced consecutive playoff misses in 2004 and 2005, marking the last time the franchise had missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons before 2015 and 2016.
2005: Previous Home Opener Loss
The Ravens' loss to the Bengals in their 2014 home opener marked their first such defeat since 2005, highlighting a rare occurrence for the team.
2005: End of Previous Consecutive Playoff Misses
The 2005 season marked the end of the previous consecutive playoff misses for the Ravens, before 2015 and 2016.
2005: Transfers to University of Delaware
Joe Flacco transferred to the University of Delaware in 2005 but was ineligible to play that season.
2006: First Full Season as Starting Quarterback
Joe Flacco played his first full season as a starting quarterback for the University of Delaware in 2006.
2007: Leads Delaware to FCS Playoffs
Joe Flacco led the University of Delaware to the FCS playoffs in 2007, reaching the National Championship game but losing to Appalachian State.
July 16, 2008: Signs with the Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco signed his first NFL contract with the Baltimore Ravens on July 16, 2008.
2008: NFL Debut as Starting Quarterback
Joe Flacco became the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback for their 2008 season opener due to injuries to other quarterbacks.
2008: First Rookie Quarterback to Win Road Playoff Debut
Joe Flacco became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first playoff start on the road in 2008.
2008: Strong Performances in Senior Bowl and NFL Combine
Joe Flacco had impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine in 2008, establishing himself as a top quarterback prospect in the draft.
2008: Signed a three-year contract with Reebok
Joe Flacco signed a three-year contract with Reebok as a rookie in 2008.
2008: Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.
January 2009: Named Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year
Joe Flacco was awarded the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award in January 2009.
2009: Brother Mike drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Joe Flacco's brother Mike was selected in the 31st round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
2009: Last Time with Best Record after Three Games
Before 2016, the Ravens had last achieved a 3-0 record after three games in the 2009 season.
2009: Spokesperson for Pizza Hut
In 2009 and 2010, Joe Flacco served as a spokesperson for Pizza Hut.
December 26, 2010: Reaches 10,000 Career Passing Yards
On December 26, 2010, Joe Flacco reached 10,000 career passing yards.
2010: Spokesperson for Pizza Hut
In 2009 and 2010, Joe Flacco served as a spokesperson for Pizza Hut.
2010: Playoff Win Against Chiefs
In 2010, Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a 30-7 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. He achieved a passer rating of 115.4, setting a postseason high for him.
2011: Divisional Round Loss Against Steelers
In the 2011 Divisional Round, the Ravens, led by Joe Flacco, suffered a loss against their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending their season. Although they initially held a lead, turnovers in the third quarter, including a fumble and an interception by Flacco, resulted in a 31-24 defeat.
2011: Married Dana
Joe Flacco married his wife Dana in 2011.
April 2012: Flacco's Bold Claim
In April 2012, Joe Flacco sparked controversy by declaring himself the best quarterback in the NFL, surpassing even Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers. This statement was met with widespread skepticism and mockery, although Flacco defended it as essential for his confidence and success.
June 2012: First son born
Joe Flacco's first child, a son, was born in June 2012.
2012: Super Bowl XLVII Victory and MVP
Joe Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII in 2012, earning the Super Bowl MVP award.
January 6, 2013: Wild Card Victory and "Mile High Miracle"
On January 6, 2013, Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a 24-9 win against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round. In the following Divisional round against the Denver Broncos, Flacco delivered one of his most memorable performances. Trailing 35-28 in the fourth quarter, with time running out, he threw a remarkable 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, forcing the game into overtime. This play, dubbed the "Mile High Miracle," was hailed as an iconic moment in NFL history, rivaling legendary plays like the "Hail Mary."
January 2013: Endorsement deal with Haribo and McDonald's
Joe Flacco signed endorsement deals with Haribo and McDonald's in January 2013.
January 20, 2013: AFC Championship Victory and Super Bowl Berth
Joe Flacco and the Ravens secured their place in Super Bowl XLVII after a 28-13 victory against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on January 20, 2013. Flacco's exceptional performance, throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns, earned him his third consecutive playoff game with a passer rating exceeding 100.
February 3, 2013: Super Bowl XLVII Victory and MVP Award
On February 3, 2013, Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a 34-31 victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. His exceptional performance, including 287 passing yards and three touchdowns, earned him the game's Most Valuable Player award. This victory, coupled with his expiring contract, positioned Flacco for a potentially lucrative free agency period.
March 4, 2013: Record-Breaking Contract and Subsequent Surpassing
On March 4, 2013, Joe Flacco secured a six-year contract worth $120.6 million, briefly establishing him as the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. However, within a matter of months, this record was eclipsed as Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons signed even more lucrative deals.
September 15, 2013: Second son born
Joe Flacco's second son was born on September 15, 2013, approximately one hour before the start of the Baltimore Ravens' home opener.
2013: Record-Breaking Contract
In 2013, Joe Flacco signed a six-year, $120.6 million contract, making him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history at that time. This record-breaking deal reflected his Super Bowl success and his perceived value in the league. However, his reign as the highest-paid quarterback was short-lived as Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan soon surpassed his contract.
2013: Struggles and Missed Playoffs
The 2013 season marked a downturn for Joe Flacco as he experienced the worst statistical performance of his career, throwing more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (19) for the first time. His passer rating plummeted to a career-low 73.1, and he endured a career-high 48 sacks. The Ravens finished the season with an 8-8 record, resulting in Flacco's first absence from the playoffs in his NFL career.
2013: Previous Pick-Six in 2013 Season Finale
Joe Flacco threw a pick-six in the 2013 season finale, which is referenced in relation to his 2015 season opener performance.
2014: Pro Bowl Invitation
Joe Flacco was invited to the 2015 Pro Bowl following the 2014 NFL season.
2014: Ranking Drop
Joe Flacco's ranking on the NFL Top 100 Players list dropped to 58th in 2014, reflecting his underwhelming performance in the previous season.
2014: Successful Season and Pro Bowl Invitation
Joe Flacco had a successful season in 2014, leading to a Pro Bowl invitation as an alternate.
2014: Career-Best Regular Season
Joe Flacco achieved a career-best regular season performance in 2014, setting personal records in passing yards (3,986) and passing touchdowns (27). He maintained a consistent level of performance, achieving a passer rating of 99 or higher in five of the last six games of the season. Flacco's strong performance contributed to the Ravens' 10-6 record that year.
2014: Home Opener Loss and Career-Long Touchdown Pass
In their 2014 home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens faced a challenging game, trailing for most of the match. Despite a highlight moment with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Steve Smith Sr., marking the longest touchdown throw of Flacco's career, the Ravens ultimately lost 16-23. This defeat marked their first home opener loss since 2005.
January 2015: Lack of Pro Bowl Recognition
Despite consistent playoff appearances in his first four seasons, Joe Flacco hadn't received Pro Bowl recognition before January 2015, highlighting a perceived lack of appreciation for his skills.
January 2015: Third son born
Joe Flacco's third son was born in January 2015.
2015: Season-Ending Injury
During a Week 11 game against the Rams in 2015, Joe Flacco suffered a torn ACL and MCL, prematurely ending his season. Despite the injury, he continued playing long enough to set up the game-winning field goal for his team.
2015: Declines Pro Bowl Invitation
Joe Flacco declined the invitation to the 2015 Pro Bowl.
2015: Lowest Ranking on NFL Top 100
Joe Flacco received his lowest ranking ever on the NFL Top 100 Players list in 2015, coming in at number 97. This marked a significant drop from his previous ranking of 58.
2015: Declined Pro Bowl, Welcomed Third Child
Joe Flacco turned down the opportunity to play in the 2015 Pro Bowl because his wife, Dana, was expecting their third child in the same month.
2015: Last playoff start before 2024
Joe Flacco's last playoff start before his January 13, 2024 game against the Houston Texans occurred in 2015.
2015: Brother Tom enrolls at Western Michigan University
Joe Flacco's youngest brother, Tom, enrolled at Western Michigan University in 2015. Tom played quarterback for the university's football team for two seasons.
2015: Season Opener Loss and First Pick-Six Since 2013
The Ravens opened their 2015 season with a loss against the Broncos, a game marked by Joe Flacco throwing a pick-six, his first since the 2013 season finale.
March 2, 2016: Contract Extension and Mixed Season Outcome
Joe Flacco agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Ravens on March 2, 2016. The team started strong with a 3-0 record but faltered later, ultimately missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
September 2016: Daughter born
Joe Flacco's only daughter was born in September 2016.
January 2017: Elected as the most attractive player in the NFL
In January 2017, Joe Flacco was voted the most attractive NFL player according to a survey conducted by Fanatics.
July 26, 2017: Back Injury Diagnosis
Joe Flacco was diagnosed with a back injury on July 26, 2017, causing him to miss a significant portion of training camp.
2017: Brother Tom transfers to Rutgers
In 2017, Joe Flacco's brother Tom transferred to Rutgers from Western Michigan University.
April 2018: Fourth son born
Joe Flacco's fourth son was born in April 2018.
September 9, 2018: Strong Season Opener Performance
Joe Flacco started the 2018 season strong, throwing for three touchdowns and achieving a passer rating of 121.7 in a blowout win against the Buffalo Bills.
2018: Loses Starting Position to Lamar Jackson
In 2018, Joe Flacco lost his starting quarterback position with the Baltimore Ravens to Lamar Jackson.
2018: Brother Tom transfers to Towson
In 2018, Joe Flacco's brother Tom transferred to Towson from Rutgers.
2018: Donation to University of Delaware athletics
Joe Flacco made a donation of an undisclosed amount to University of Delaware athletics in 2018. It was the largest donation to the university from an alumnus in the NFL.
2018: Sam Darnold Drafted
Sam Darnold, who Joe Flacco backed up in 2020, was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
February 13, 2019: Trade Agreement with Broncos
On February 13, 2019, the Ravens agreed to trade Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
March 13, 2019: Trade Finalized
The trade sending Joe Flacco to the Broncos was officially finalized on March 13, 2019.
2019: Sold home in Reisterstown, Maryland
After being traded to the Denver Broncos from the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Joe Flacco sold his house in Reisterstown, Maryland for $1.6 million.
2019: Traded to the Denver Broncos
Joe Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2019 after losing his starting position with the Ravens.
2019: Last winning start before 2022
In 2019, Joe Flacco had his last winning start in a game before achieving another one during the 2022 season.
2019: Broncos Debut and Season-Ending Neck Injury
Joe Flacco debuted for the Broncos in 2019, experiencing both highs and lows, including a game-winning drive that was ultimately overturned and a season-ending neck injury in Week 8.
March 19, 2020: Released by Broncos
Joe Flacco was released by the Broncos on March 19, 2020, after failing a physical due to his neck injury.
April 2020: Neck Surgery
Joe Flacco underwent neck surgery in April 2020 to address the injury that had prematurely ended his 2019 season.
May 27, 2020: Signed with Jets as Backup
On May 27, 2020, Joe Flacco signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets to serve as the backup quarterback to Sam Darnold.
July 30, 2020: Placed on Physically Unable to Perform List
Joe Flacco started training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list on July 30, 2020, as he continued to recover from his neck surgery.
September 5, 2020: Activated for Regular Season
Joe Flacco was activated from the physically unable to perform list at the start of the 2020 regular season, signifying his return to playing condition.
October 7, 2020: Named Starter Due to Darnold's Injury
Joe Flacco was named the starting quarterback for the Jets on October 7, 2020, due to an injury sustained by Sam Darnold.
2020: Joins the New York Jets
Joe Flacco joined the New York Jets in 2020 as a backup quarterback.
2020: Jalen Hurts Drafted
Jalen Hurts, whom Joe Flacco backed up in 2021, was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
March 25, 2021: Signed with Eagles as Backup
Joe Flacco signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 25, 2021, to back up quarterback Jalen Hurts.
October 25, 2021: Traded back to the Jets
On October 25, 2021, Joe Flacco was traded back to the New York Jets from the Philadelphia Eagles due to an injury sustained by the Jets' starting quarterback, Zach Wilson.
November 17, 2021: Named starting quarterback for the Jets
On November 17, 2021, Joe Flacco was named the starting quarterback for the New York Jets' game against the Miami Dolphins.
2021: Signs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Returns to Jets
Joe Flacco signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 but was traded back to the New York Jets later that season.
2021: Brother Tom signed by Saskatchewan Roughriders
Joe Flacco's brother Tom was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 2021.
March 16, 2022: Re-signed with the Jets
On March 16, 2022, Joe Flacco re-signed with the New York Jets on a one-year contract worth $3.5 million.
November 20, 2023: Signed to the Browns practice squad
On November 20, 2023, Joe Flacco was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad as a result of an injury to their starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.
2023: Joins the Cleveland Browns and Wins Comeback Player of the Year
Joe Flacco joined the Cleveland Browns in 2023, helped them reach the playoffs, and was named Comeback Player of the Year.
January 13, 2024: First playoff start since 2015
Joe Flacco made his first playoff start since 2015 on January 13, 2024, against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. This nine-year gap between playoff starts is the second-longest gap in NFL postseason history.
March 22, 2024: Signed with the Indianapolis Colts
Joe Flacco signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts on March 22, 2024.