Kristina Roberts
The Cleveland Browns have one of the most interesting quarterback situations in the NFL right now. With five quarterbacks on the roster, things are a bit crowded. The team has experienced players like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and the injured Deshaun Watson, along with two rookies—Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Among the veterans, Flacco has the most experience and is seen as the most likely to start this season. But one thing he doesn’t want to be called? A mentor.
During a recent interview at Browns practice, Flacco was asked about helping the younger quarterbacks learn the ropes. His response was clear—he’s there to play football, not to babysit. He explained that questions about mentoring are tricky because no matter how he answers, it can be twisted to make him look bad. If he says he doesn’t want to mentor, people might call him selfish. If he says he does, it might seem like he’s not focused on his own game.
Flacco said, “It’s a good question to bait somebody into answering, and no matter how they answer it, it kind of makes the guy that’s answering it look bad. If I say, ‘I don’t want to be a mentor,’ I look bad. If I say, ‘I do want to be a mentor,’ then I look like an idiot that doesn’t care about being good and playing football. So it’s one of those questions that no matter what I say, you guys can write what you want to write about it.”
He went on to explain that while he’s happy to share his knowledge, his main job is to compete and play well. He believes the best way to lead is by example—showing the younger players how a professional works rather than giving them lectures. “I tend to try to be honest, and I’ve said, ‘I’m not a mentor. I play football.’ And in a quarterback room, there’s a lot of times—already, there’s been a ton of times—where there’s learning experiences, and I have a lot of experience, and I can talk on things, and hopefully they listen. But it’s not necessarily my job to make sure they listen to me.”
This isn’t the first time Flacco has been in this situation. Over the years, he’s played alongside young quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Drew Lock, Sam Darnold, and Anthony Richardson. Each time, he’s made it clear that while he’s willing to help, his priority is winning games. At 40 years old, Flacco still sees himself as a capable starter, not just a teacher.
“Because of what I just said, you’re acting like I wouldn’t want to be a mentor. Once again, it’s not really about that. It’s just not the main focus. I see myself as a guy who can play in this league, so if your main focus was just, ‘Hey, bud, I’m going to get you ready,’ you’re just not taking care of business.”
Right now, Flacco is competing for the starting job against Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders. While Pickett hasn’t been a standout quarterback in the NFL, Gabriel and Sanders are both rookies trying to prove themselves. Gabriel was a surprise pick in the third round, while Sanders—who many thought would be a first-round selection—fell all the way to the fifth round, making his draft day one of the most shocking in recent memory.
Flacco admitted that he was a little surprised when the Browns drafted two more quarterbacks. He joked that he found out about the Sanders pick when his wife told him, “They just drafted another guy.” Still, he had nothing but good things to say about Sanders, praising his attitude and personality. “Shedeur has been great. I mean, he’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms. I think so far, there’s been at least once in the meeting room that he’s made me crack a smile, and that’s what it’s all about. You know, he’s a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he’s been a lot of fun. I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his dad, and now I’m playing with him.”
Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, is now in his 18th NFL season. His time with the Browns last year was one of his best performances in recent years, leading the team to a 4-1 record as a starter and helping them reach the playoffs. Now, he’s ready to prove he can still play at a high level.
The Browns’ quarterback room is full of talent, but it’s also full of questions. Will Flacco keep his starting role? Can Pickett step up and improve his game? Will Gabriel or Sanders surprise everyone and earn playing time? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—Joe Flacco isn’t here to hold anyone’s hand. He’s here to win.
As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Cleveland to see how this quarterback battle plays out. With a mix of veterans and rookies, the Browns have a lot of potential—but also a lot of pressure. For Flacco, the goal is simple: play his best football and let the rest take care of itself. Whether the younger quarterbacks learn from him or not, that’s up to them.
In the end, Flacco’s message is clear—he’s a player first, and that’s how he wants to be seen. Mentoring might happen naturally, but it’s not his main job. His focus is on the field, not the classroom. And for a team hoping to compete this season, that might be exactly what the Browns need.
