No quarterback has more wins against Mike Tomlin than Joe Flacco. As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed that as a possibility for the Pittsburgh Steelers entering the 2026 season. On Thursday, Barnwell mentioned Flacco as a potential quarterback option for the Steelers next year.
Barnwell argued Flacco could be an alternative if the team sours on Aaron Rodgers during the final seven weeks of 2025.
“Unless the Steelers feel strongly about Murray (and the Cardinals do decide to move on from him), the answer is probably not, which could mean another go-round with Rodgers if he wants to keep playing,” Barnwell wrote. “The alternatives might be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Joe Flacco, who profile as higher-variance versions of Rodgers.”
Flacco has proven over the past month and a half with the Cincinnati Bengals that he can still sling it. In four games with the Bengals, he’s averaged 7.2 yards per pass with 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Flacco has posted a 102.6 passer rating during that stretch.
Steelers to Face Joe Flacco Again in Week 11
Despite the resurgent passing stretch for Flacco, he is 1-3 as the Bengals starter since getting traded across Ohio. His only victory came against the Steelers in Week 7.
Flacco is 11-11 against Tomlin in his career. Flacco’s 11 victories against Tomlin are tied for 11th most against one coach in NFL history according to SI on Steelers’ Jay Morrison.
The quarterback and head coach will square off again Sunday. The Week 11 matchup will be their 23rd meeting, which will tie them for the fourth most meetings between a quarterback and head coach all time.
Chuck Noll and Ken Anderson also met 23 times.
It’s a simple saying — if you can’t beat them, join them. But it could apply in this situation.
Tomlin has sent a lot of praise toward Flacco this year. Before Week 4, Tomlin even told reporters he wanted his team to be careful not to injure Anthony Richardson last season so Flacco, who was Richardson’s backup, wouldn’t enter the game.
The past two years, the Steelers have added cheap, aging quarterbacks in free agency. Flacco fits that bill and can’t be discredited as an option if a Rodgers return is off the table.
Will Aaron Rodgers Return for Steelers in 2026?
A week ago, pundits were more confidently saying yes to this question. But Rodgers posted his worst game of the season, and maybe one of the worst of his career, in Week 10.
Rodgers completed only 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Overall, Rodgers has been very good this season. If the campaign ended today, the Steelers would likely try to bring him back. Rodgers appears to have enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh, so it’s quite possible he’d want to return.
But whether those assumed feelings remain will depend on how the season ends. Rodgers can’t have many more performances like Week 10 if he wants the Steelers to re-sign him for 2026.
Should Rodgers bounce back, though, and the Steelers win enough games not to have a high draft pick, then Rodgers could again be the best, cheap free agent option for Pittsburgh next spring.
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