Joe Flacco has played in more NFL games than Shedeur Sanders has birthdays.
But that hasn’t stopped the veteran quarterback from forming a quick bond with the Cleveland Browns rookie — even if it comes with the occasional reminder of how long Flacco’s been around.
"I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his dad, and now I’m playing with him"Joe Flacco at today's Browns OTAs
He’s not exaggerating. Deion Sanders retired from the NFL in 2005. Flacco was drafted in 2008. They just missed each other in Baltimore by two years. Now, nearly two decades later, Flacco’s sharing a quarterback room with Deion’s son — and helping him prepare for his NFL debut.
A unique relationship
Flacco may be 40, but he’s far from mailing it in. After winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2023 and making a late playoff push with the Browns, he’s back on a one-year deal — not to mentor, but to compete.
Still, when asked about the dynamic with Shedeur, Flacco couldn’t help but acknowledge the full-circle nature of it.
“He’s been great,” Flacco said. “A lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms. There’s already been a moment where he’s made me crack a smile, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Sanders, for his part, is just as excited — and humbled — to be in the same room as a Super Bowl MVP he grew up watching.
“It’s cool talking to him,” Sanders told Kay Adams on Up & Adams. “At practice I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m really with Joe Flacco right now. We’re on the same team.’”
For Shedeur, the moment still feels surreal. For Flacco, it’s just another reminder that he’s now the wise veteran passing on what he can.
Flacco is not here just to mentor
Flacco made one thing clear: He’s not viewing this season as a retirement tour. When asked about mentoring the younger guys, he offered a real answer — one that young quarterbacks like Sanders can still learn plenty from.
“I see myself as a guy that can still play in this league,” Flacco said. “The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work… not necessarily force them to pick up the things you do.”
That example might be more valuable than any speech or sit-down. And from what coaches are saying, Sanders is already watching how Flacco prepares, studies, and carries himself day-to-day.
Shedeur’s not just watching — he’s competing
Of course, while the storyline of a rookie learning from a vet makes for great quotes, this is still a competition.
The Browns' quarterback room is packed: Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and the recovering Deshaun Watson are all in the mix. Sanders has mostly seen fourth-team reps through early OTA sessions, but head coach Kevin Stefanski says the rotation is designed to give everyone exposure.
“We’re mixing it up every day,” Stefanski said. “Giving guys different concepts, different looks.”
Translation? Nothing’s set. And if there’s one thing Colorado fans know, it’s this: Shedeur plays his best with something to prove.
The Browns clearly saw potential in Sanders — drafting him despite an already full room. And while it may take time for reps to materialize, the former Buff brings elite accuracy, a strong resume, and rare poise under pressure.
Full-Circle
For those of us who followed Deion’s career and watched Shedeur’s rise from Jackson State to Boulder, the image of Flacco — once a fresh face in the league — sharing a QB room with Coach Prime’s son is more than just a generational quirk.
It’s a reminder of how fast football moves, and how rare it is to see stories like this line up.
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