Exactly How Browns QB Joe Flacco ended up being Baltimore’s ‘Joe Cool’

When Baltimore hosts the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 ( 1 p.m. ET, CBS , the Ravens will certainly celebrate their 30 th season with a really acquainted face and an important part of the franchise business’s background on the opposing sideline.

Quarterback Joe Flacco , that was prepared No. 18 by the Ravens in 2008, invested the first 11 years of his job with the team and aided lead the franchise business to its 2nd champion (Super Dish XLVII), will certainly play his very first game at M&T Financial institution Arena considering that being traded after the 2018 period– an action that paved the way for the current Lamar Jackson era.

“It’ll be interesting to return,” Flacco told ESPN in a special interview. “Honestly, the entire AFC North is a pretty great place to play, but Baltimore is a truly amazing place to play. Special fans, they like football. … It needs to be a lot of fun, I make sure.”

Flacco, 40, continues to be the Ravens’ all-time leader in passing yards (38, 245 and passing touchdowns (212 Only five players continue to be from Flacco’s final season in Baltimore– Jackson, limited end Mark Andrews , offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley , fullback Patrick Ricard and cornerback Marlon Humphrey — but as the Ravens hold their wedding anniversary celebration, coincidentally against the city which shed its group to Baltimore, Flacco is anticipated to rejoin with train John Harbaugh and a bunch of teammates and coaches he completed together with throughout his time with the Ravens.

“He’s iconic, I assume, in Baltimore football history,” Harbaugh claimed.

Flacco’s father, Steve, told ESPN that they’re expecting to contend the very least 20 to 30 family members and close friends at Sunday’s video game. And though the Flaccos might be supporting for the quarterback to obtain the Browns their initial victory of the 2025 period, there’s a fascinating background behind the 18 -year veteran’s time in the “Beauty City.”

Previous colleagues, trainers and those near Flacco allow ESPN know the big-armed, composed passer that engaged himself to come to be Baltimore’s “Joe Cool.”

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The exercise before he was prepared

The Ravens were led specifically by their protection in the very first decade-plus of their presence in the NFL. The 2000 protection still stands as one of the best in organization background, and those units often carried an actors of middling quarterbacks and shoddy offenses.

After stumbling to a 5 – 11 record in 2007, the Ravens had a leading- 10 pick and an enormous requirement at quarterback. Flacco, that started his college occupation at Pittsburgh prior to transferring to Delaware, was among the top quarterback prospects in the 2008 draft.

Precursors advised offensive coordinator Camera Cameron and others in the Ravens company to see Flacco include person. Delaware was refurbishing its centers, including its technique field.

“So we find an area. It’s got no lines, no nothing,” Cameron claimed. “You would certainly vouch we were just in open field.”

The Ravens brought a few receivers, “university guys off the street. … just bodies. We needed somebody for Joe to throw to.”

Flacco had actually picked his favored worn-out footballs for the exercise. The Ravens had various other concepts. Cameron pulled out a bag of brand-new rounds and asked Flacco if he would certainly toss them instead.

Cameron took Flacco with a 90 -minute workout– in the components.

“It was gusty, it was chilly, which I suched as,” Cameron claimed. “Being with the Ravens, you wanted to see just how weatherproof they are.”

Joe Douglas, then a northeast location scout, along with now-general supervisor Eric DeCosta, that was director of college searching at the time, were present.

“Joe didn’t blink,” stated K.C. Keeler, Flacco’s coach at Delaware. “They asked him to stay flat-footed on the goal line, and he tossed it 80 lawns in the air. The only workout they can remember that was even close, in terms of arm toughness, was Ben Roethlisberger’s. [Flacco] pleased them that day with just his pure arm strength and accuracy.”

Some individuals in the company had Flacco ranked above Matt Ryan, whom the Atlanta Falcons made the very first quarterback taken in that draft with the No. 3 choice.

“Our scouts are just resting there with their jaws socializing,” Cameron stated. “I claimed, ‘Guys, if we’re clever, we’ll go out of right here and nobody claim a word of what you just saw.’ So, we imitated it was immaterial. Not one individual ever dripped out what took place in that exercise. To see a man not miss out on a throw in 90 mins on a field without any lines and with receivers he would certainly never ever tossed to was pretty unique.”

The Ravens originally held the No. 8 choice but traded back with the Jacksonville Jaguars to No. 26 for a package of picks.

“We were up at [26],” Cameron claimed, “and all of an unexpected [then-GM Ozzie Newsome] states, ‘We’re not going to let this set slip with.’ Everyone was thrilled.”

The Ravens used the 26 th choice and a 3rd- and sixth-rounder to move up to No. 18 and nab their franchise business quarterback.

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“Every person knew ‘we had a guy'”

On a defensive-led team filled with future Pro Football Hall of Famers at every level, Flacco’s tranquil demeanor worked as a comparison to the defense’s strong characters.

Flacco’s huge arm– “he can toss the ball with a hurricane,” pass receiver Derrick Mason stated– promptly caught the attention of his teammates.

“I was so focused on just making sure I didn’t f– things up,” Flacco said of his first season in Baltimore. “I went to the ideal area with the round, or I knew the play, I knew the tempo. As a novice, you’re considering so many different things. I indicate, yeah, you’re aware that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are over there, and when you stroll right into the locker room, your eyes move towards them. You’re a follower. Yet at the same time, you knew entering into a storage locker area with those type of personalities that you were mosting likely to have to stand difficult.”

Lewis and Reed, probably 2 of the most effective in NFL history at their particular placements at linebacker and safety and security, professionally, tested the young passer in method. Flacco, however, was up for the obstacle.

“Everybody existed the day that Ed Reed baited Joe on an article course,” Cameron stated. “Ed could do that like none other. He would bait you, leave somebody open simply sufficient that he understood the quarterback would toss it, then he would certainly go over and intercept it. He tried that with Joe, and Joe maintained tossing it ideal past him, and he could not get him. And Ed came by to me and he states, ‘You obtained one there, Coach.’ And then Ray complied with up and stated the exact same point.

“He tossed some balls by Ray in practice immediately, and as soon as Ray and Ed validate a guy, the entire group gave up bothering with Joe Flacco as a newbie. Everyone began concentrating on their own job. Which is huge. If you watch just how it’s playing out with some of these young quarterbacks these days, as soon as the veterinarians accept a young quarterback, everybody gives up bothering with him. They fret about their own work. … I’m informing you, Joe can be found in and simply placed on a program at once. He still had a lot to find out yet not as long as everyone idea. Everybody knew we had a man.”

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Flacco’s NFL debut

Though the vets had actually co-signed Flacco, he had not been expected to start his occupation as the Ravens’ beginning QB. However Kyle Boller experienced a torn labrum in his shoulder in the 2nd preseason video game, and Troy Smith was sidelined because of tonsillitis, requiring Flacco to lead Baltimore in its period opener Sept. 7, 2008, against the Cincinnati Bengals

Flacco completed with a pedestrian stat line– 15 of 29, 129 backyards, no passing goals or interceptions– but it was his 38-lawn, galloping touchdown run along the Bengals’ sideline, still the longest of his job, that was the distinction in a 17 – 10 win

And the score was born from a broken play.

“It was an opposite. It was just one of 2 turns around that we racked up on, and I was meant to hand it to Le’Ron McClain and he was meant to commend the receiver,” Flacco stated. “I think Le’Ron sort of failed to remember that was taking place. I could have just commended the receiver, yet I kind of just took it around the side myself. I was mosting likely to simply go run, take the initial down and leave bounds. And I kind of reached that point, resembled, ‘All right, I might also maintain going.’ And, you recognize, the rest is history.”

Flacco aided lead the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell short of getting to the Super Bowl in a 23 – 14 roadway loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers

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The production of ‘Joe Cool’

In the physical and ultra-competitive AFC North, Flacco remained in lots of close divisional matches, especially versus the bitter competing Steelers. Flacco came out on the wrong end of his first 6 head-to-head competitions against Roethlisberger prior to beating the Steelers 35 – 7 in the 2011 period opener in your home.

However Flacco still had to do it at Heinz Area, an area where he and the Ravens had actually experienced tough losses and broken heart.

That changed on Nov. 6, 2011 Down 4 points with 2: 24 staying, Flacco drove the Ravens 92 backyards down the area– with Styx’s “Renegade” verses blasting and tens of countless Pittsburgh fans waiving their Horrible Towels– and tossed a 26 -yard goal pass to pass receiver Torrey Smith to win 23 – 20 and complete the 2nd sweep of the Steelers in group history.

“The important things I loved about him most,” Smith stated, “was whenever you actioned in the huddle with him, you constantly felt like you had a chance to win the game regardless of what the situation was. That’s truly even if of his disposition. He’s constantly laid back. He does not obtain discombobulated, and he’s ice chilly when it involves hold situations.”

After Smith had a huge decline previously in the video game, Flacco really did not hesitate to find right back to Smith in the most significant minute.

“Him coming back to me, that was significant for myself, my confidence and idea in the group,” Smith said, “and clearly is among the huge minutes in that wonderful competition. He’s never daunted. Being around him helped me because, his disposition, he was never actually rattled. Also if he slipped up, he’s simply all on the next point. … He’s as great as anybody you’ll ever see, ever before, action in that huddle when it comes time to go obtain it done.”

Hall of Famer Joe Montana is the NFL’s initial “Joe Cool,” but Flacco earned the nickname for his nimble calmness in high-pressure moments. And it was that grace that permitted Flacco to raise his postseason play. His seven roadway playoff victories are linked with QB Tom Brady for the most in NFL background.

In the 2012 playoffs, Flacco tossed 11 goals and no interceptions as he ripped off Brady’s New England Patriots and Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos en course to catching the franchise business’s second championship in Super Dish XLVII. The Mile High Miracle — Flacco’s 70 -lawn goal pass to wide receiver Jacoby Jones to send the local round game versus Denver to overtime– continues to be among the most unforgettable clutch plays in Ravens history. Flacco was named Super Dish MVP for his performance in the 34 – 31 success over the San Francisco 49 ers Playing on the final year of his rookie contract, Flacco parlayed the postseason run into a six-year, $ 120 million contract, which at the time was one of the most profitable in NFL history.

Though lots of may have memorialized the handle a large purchase or celebration, Flacco took a various course.

“He boils down to sign his contract,” stated Kevin Byrne, the franchise business’s long time head of public relationships that relocated from Cleveland to Baltimore with the franchise. “He then reverses and drives back home up [Interstate-95], he quits at McDonald’s to obtain a 10 -item McNugget. He celebrates the largest agreement ever with McDonald’s McNuggets.”

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The end of an era

Baltimore failed to get to the postseason in four of the following 5 seasons after the Super Dish triumph, and Flacco struggled with on-field efficiency and injuries.

On April 26, 2018, with 33 -year-old Flacco entering his 11 th period with the group, Newsome set up the franchise for the future in his last draft as GM. After steering via the opening night of the draft, Newsome traded back into the first round to pick Jackson with the 32 nd choice.

Former Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta, who was Flacco’s best receiver during their time as colleagues, had retired and was seeing the 2018 draft with Flacco and their families.

“During I’m joking with Joe, like, ‘Guy, I can’t wait till they draft a quarterback. We’re ribbing him. He’s giggling concerning it,'” Pitta recalled.

When the Ravens took Hayden Hurst with the 25 th pick, “We joke, ‘You’re fortunate, Joe. After that, all of a sudden, with the 32 nd choice, the Eagles make a trade and the Ravens trade back into the preliminary. We all look at each other, like, ‘Uh-oh,’ we understand what’s about to happen. And they compose Lamar and we kind of look at each other, and all of us start passing away laughing– Joe included. …

“He doesn’t take anything also seriously. When a group prepares a quarterback in the preliminary, you recognize the writing gets on the wall for the existing starter. He chuckled about it and we were joking regarding it, and he was never overly worried about anything.”

Flacco was still a competitor, though, and one that had not been all set to relinquish his beginning place, stating that it wasn’t his duty to mentor Jackson. Flacco began the first 9 games of the season, but the Ravens struggled with a 4 – 5 record and Flacco hurt his hip against the Steelers on Nov. 11, 2018– which was his last game at M&T Financial institution Stadium as Baltimore’s starting quarterback.

“I talked with a lot of individuals, and I wasn’t walking very well, yet I still wished to go out there and play, regardless of what,” Flacco claimed. “Yet I saw a handful of individuals and it was similar to, ‘Man, you can not. But you do not understand what’s going to take place, and it was the appropriate point to do. Undoubtedly, you have a young kid behind you and you do not know what the thought process is and you don’t intend to consider that up. I’m a goddamn starting quarterback. You do not consider that s– up conveniently, you recognize what I mean? There’s 32 of these in the NFL, on the planet, so it suggests a lot.”

Jackson actioned in and helped turn around the Ravens’ period, leading them back to the postseason prior to a tragic loss to the Chargers in your home in the wild-card round. As Jackson battled in his playoff debut, fans chanted for Flacco to enter the game. Harbaugh, however, chosen to keep Jackson in.

“We just weren’t able to get the job done, and I didn’t believe it was best to do anything like that,” Flacco claimed. “And then after that, it was like, ‘OK, there’s a fresh start for them, clean slate for me.'”

Flacco strolled off the area at M&T Financial institution Arena putting on Ravens shades for the final time and a month later, Baltimore traded him to the Broncos , ending their most flourishing keep up a quarterback in franchise background.

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Returning to Cleveland

Flacco battled throughout jobs in Denver and with the New York City Jets , and his profession appeared over prior to quarterback injuries required the Browns late in the 2023 period to call Flacco, that went to home with his family members.

In a five-game December stretch, Flacco tossed for 300 lawns in four successive video games and led Cleveland back to the postseason before falling to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. Flacco was called NFL Comeback Gamer of the Year for his late-season heroics.

In Cleveland, Flacco’s behavior and big-armed throws have actually swiftly made him a favorite amongst fans and in the storage locker area, from limited end David Njoku to undrafted novice wideout Gage Larvadain , that passionately referred to Flacco as “Mr. Joe Flacco” in August.

I captured a touchdown from Mr.Joe Flacco … Life is complete https://t.co/wExItahGIp

— Gage Larvadain (@g 1 baller) August 2, 2025

Former Browns pass receiver Amari Cooper defined Flacco’s passes as “verse in motion” and called him a “faith multiplier.” Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave saw Flacco as a senior high school bottle when he was recruiting him to Virginia and stated his arm remains “definitely elite.”

“To enjoy Joe toss a baseball there his junior year in senior high school and you know, touch 92, 94 [mph], and then to see where his football job has gone has actually just been extraordinary,” Musgrave stated. “And he still, obviously, is a total 6 -foot- 6 weapon.”

After investing the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts , Flacco and the Browns reunited this previous offseason with an one-year, $ 4 million bargain. Flacco emerged from the Browns’ congested quarterback area as the starter, and in Week 1, he signed up with a listing of 17 40 -year-old quarterbacks, including Brady, Aaron Rodgers , Drew Brees and Brett Favre , to start a period opener because 1950

Flacco, who a decade ago stated he thought he can play into his 40 s, lately called the turning point “special.” Flacco has actually already encountered the Ravens– he shed a Week 1 matchup in 2022 as a participant of the Jets– yet a similar view depends on going back to a place he called home and developed the greatest minutes in his career.

Flacco, however, and those near to him do not anticipate him to have large emotions, remaining real to his “Joe Cool” name.

“I do not believe it’ll be emotional for him,” Steve Flacco stated. “Every team is different. So, it’s not like he’s playing against the guys he was on the team with [the] in 2014. It will not be rather like that. So, I do not believe it’ll be emotional. I believe it’ll be awesome, though. I think it’ll interest be back there. …

“I do assume that he’ll value playing this video game there. I do not think there’s any kind of question concerning that. He does appreciate the people there. That part of it will be significantly valued, believe me.”

— ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley contributed to this story.