The Pittsburgh Steelers could face quarterback Joe Flacco again during the 2026 NFL season. Flacco will serve as often-injured Joe Burrow’s backup once more during the 2026 campaign.
If Flacco gets a chance to play versus Pittsburgh, it appears he will possess plenty of motivation.
A day after signing a 1-year deal to return to the Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco put NFL teams who didn’t consider him a 2026 starting quarterback candidate on notice.
“Believe me, I wish I was a guy somewhere,” Flacco told reporters Friday. “And I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy.”
According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Flacco also added: “Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere, yeah, it pisses me off a little bit. But at the same time, I’m very happy to be here.”
The 41-year-old quarterback didn’t mention the Steelers specifically. But it doesn’t take a lot of dot connecting to see Flacco’s comment as a Pittsburgh dig.
The Steelers were one of several teams that entered the offseason with a need behind center. Pittsburgh still possesses that need too because the team continues to wait on a decision from Aaron Rodgers.
Steelers Overlooked Joe Flacco in 2026 NFL Free Agency?
With his answers to reporters Wednesday, Flacco wasn’t just taking a shot at the Steelers but any team which acquired a new starting quarterback this offseason.
Flacco didn’t talk specific teams. But it doesn’t sound like he received any consideration for starting jobs.
“I know enough not to get super tied up emotionally with certain things and how to think about how they might play out because you really have no idea,” Flacco added. “And who knows what those teams were thinking anyway, whether I was on their radar or not. I have no idea.
“It’s not really for me to decide. I think I can get caught up in all of that and say, ‘Why not me?’ and all that and be bitter about it.”
The Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons added Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively. The Miami Dolphins signed Malik Willis while the New York Jets traded for Geno Smith.
No one faulted those teams, though, for not considering Flacco. Especially in the cases for the Vikings and Falcons, who signed their free agent quarterbacks for league minimum.
However, the Steelers differ from those teams because Pittsburgh clearly has no issue with an aging signal-caller. Pittsburgh added 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers last spring.
But instead of considering Flacco, for the second straight year, the Steelers have treated their quarterback situation as Rodgers or bust.
Flacco signing with the Bengals leaves the Steelers with one fewer option if Rodgers elects not to return. Flacco can then add salt to that wound if he plays well versus Pittsburgh as he did in 2025.
This offseason, the Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders are the three teams with the most obvious starting quarterback spots remaining.
Flacco’s History With Steelers, Pittsburgh Sports
It’s pretty easy to disagree with Flacco’s assertion that he’s not being bitter. He said himself he’s “pissed” about not having another opportunity to start.
But when the season starts, it sounds as though Flacco will channel that anger on the field for Cincinnati.
“Maybe part of that does still motivate me to do what I’m doing,” Flacco also said. “I probably do feel that way. I feel like I have unfinished business. That’s part of why I’m still here and playing and doing all those things.”
Flacco will enter his 19th NFL season in 2026. After 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens where he won Super Bowl MVP, he’s experienced stints with the Bengals, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos.
Flacco owns a 12-12 record as a starter versus the Steelers. All of those games were against former head coach Mike Tomlin.
That record doesn’t include a relief appearance victory Flacco earned against the Steelers while with Indianapolis in 2024.
Ironically, Flacco began his college career at Pitt. But while sitting behind Tyler Palko on the team’s depth chart in 2005, Flacco transferred to Delaware, where he became a star.
In addition to that potential beef with Pittsburgh, the quarterback has played for all three of the Steelers’ division rivals.
Joe Flacco Takes Indirect Shot at Steelers After Signing With Rival Bengals