gold star for USAHOF

2024 Pre-Season Rank #64, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #84, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #84, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #92, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #124.  Peak Period: 2008-12

For the record, we know that the odds of Joe Flacco making it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame are minimal at best, but what he has accomplished in the last few years has been inspirational.

A Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco was supplanted by Lamar Jackson and continued to work in the NFL as a solid backup.  In 2023, he had to take over for Cleveland in their stretch drive and led them to the playoffs with a 4-1 record.  He also won the AP Comeback Player of the Year.   Last year, he was a Colt, but he begins this campaign as a starter once again, for Cleveland. 

Regardless of how far he gets in the Hall of Fame process, his longevity and dedication to the game are impressive, and he is a player with over 45,000 Yards. 

8. Joe Flacco

Selected 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Delaware, Joe Flacco was thrown straight into the fire as a rookie under new head coach John Harbaugh. Bringing a towering frame, elite arm strength, and a quiet demeanor to the Baltimore huddle, Flacco stabilized a position that had been a revolving door since the franchise's inception, leading the Ravens to the postseason in each of his first five seasons.

Flacco was built like a classic pocket passer. He possessed one of the strongest arms in the league, capable of stretching defenses downfield with high-velocity vertical boundary throws to receivers like Torrey Smith, Anquan Boldin, and Jacoby Jones. Flacco utilized his arm strength to launch deep passes, driving the ball through cold January winds and giving his offense big-play potential. His unflappable, calm demeanor under pressure earned him the nickname "January Joe" for his playoff performances.

Flacco's first season in 2008 set a strong foundation for his career. As the starting quarterback from the beginning, he threw for 2,971 yards and helped Baltimore achieve an 11-5 record. He became the first rookie in NFL history to win two postseason games on the road and reach the AFC Championship. Over the next three seasons, his consistent performance led Baltimore to consecutive 12-win seasons in 2010 and 2011, maintaining the team's status as a championship contender.

His defining moment came in the 2012 postseason, showcasing one of the most memorable playoff performances by an NFL quarterback. The highlight was the famous "Mile High Miracle"—a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones in the final minute to tie the game against Denver. Over four playoff games, Flacco accumulated 1,140 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He concluded his remarkable run by earning Super Bowl XLVII MVP after beating San Francisco 34-31.

In 2014, Flacco had another impressive season under offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, passing for a career-high 3,986 yards and 27 touchdowns, and leading a playoff upset against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also set the franchise record for single-season passing yards in 2016, with 4,089 yards, becoming the key player in the offense.

Following a hip injury in 2018 that opened the door for Lamar Jackson to lead the offense, Flacco's eleven-year stint in Baltimore concluded. He subsequently played for Denver, the Jets, Philadelphia, Cleveland (where he earned the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award), Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.

Flacco set all-time franchise records with 38,245 passing yards and 212 touchdown passes, while compiling a legendary 10-5 postseason record.