Joe Flacco Thanks Cleveland Following Playoff Loss

Flacco knows his incredible run to the playoffs will be cherished by Cleveland no matter where his career goes next

The Joe Flacco era is almost certainly over in Cleveland after the Browns’ 45-14 loss to the Texans.

But it won’t be forgotten among Browns fans — or Flacco — anytime soon.

If that is indeed all for Flacco and the Browns, what a two months it’s been. A couch-sitter turned practice squad player turned starting quarterback, the NFL might never see another story similar to that of Flacco, a 38-year-old and Super Bowl MVP who somehow went the whole season without getting a phone call until the injury-plagued Browns needed a midseason lift.

Flacco more than provided it. By rattling off four straight wins and propelling the Browns to their fourth playoff game since 1999, Flacco cemented himself among Cleveland folklore, and neither he nor the fanbase will forget the run anytime soon.

“It’s disappointing the way it ends,” Flacco said. “I think the way a city embraces you and the way this team has, you want to do big things — mostly for your teammates, because those guys have been incredible — but it’s hard to not feel the way the city rallied around those guys in the locker room.”

Jan 13, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during the first quarter a 2024 AFC wild card game at NRG Stadium / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

For Flacco, the embrace felt warm as soon as he picked up his first win on Dec. 10 against the Jaguars. That was the start of four straight wins that resulted in playoff tickets being punched and hope oozing through the city in a way that hasn’t spread since perhaps the Kardiac Kids of 1980.

Fans caught hope for valid reasons, too. Flacco’s stint lasted only six games, but it was one of the best six-game stretches a Browns quarterback had ever built.

Before Saturday, Flacco threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns through five games and became the only Cleveland passer to ever top 300 passing yards in four consecutive games. His 14 passing touchdowns, including his lone touchdown Saturday, matched the total Deshaun Watson logged in his 12 career games with the Browns.

It ended in a painful way — Flacco's back-to-back pick-sixes to open the second half against the Texans spelled the end of Cleveland's season, but the Browns might not ever see such a run again.

And there’s no doubt they enjoyed all the hope Flacco provided.

“As crazy as they can be, (the fans) are what make the game,” he said. “You’re not necessarily thinking about it, but that’s what it’s about. It’s about getting these communities excited about their team. That’s what we like to do. We love the NFL and we like to get excited about teams. I can’t thank the organization, my teammates, this team, this city enough. It stinks, the way it ends, but it was a lot of fun and I'm grateful for the time we had.”