A Super Bowling-winning quarterback has been benched ahead of Week 5.
The major shakeup sees the veteran replaced by a 24-year-old rookie in the hopes of turning around the team’s season.
Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) drops back to make a pass during the first half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images[/caption]
Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) makes a pass during the second half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images[/caption]
The Cleveland Browns have announced Dillon Gabriel will replace Joe Flacco as their starting QB for Sunday’s game.
The Browns face the Minnesota Vikings in London this weekend, hoping to revitalise their season.
They are currently 3-1, having picked up their only victory against the much-favoured Green Bay Packers.
Despite that upset, Cleveland lost a tight opening ficture to the Cincinnati Bengals before being blown away by the Ravens and the Lions.
In response, head coach Kevin Stefanski has turned to his rookie QB, Gabriel, to replace Flacco.
Speaking to Pro Football Talk, Flacco said, “Listen, I think I said it on Sunday, anytime you’re in this league, everybody’s always getting evaluated.
“The job of the quarterback is to help your team win football games.
“So, I don’t know if I foresaw it coming, but listen, me and Kevin [Stefanski] can have a good conversation.
“It’s not like anything that was super long or drawn out like that.
“But, got to the point, had a good conversation about it, and it is what it is.”
Flacco will be Gabriel’s backup, keeping third-string quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, sidelined.
Sanders gave a bizarre interview in response to this news, miming as if he were answering but not actually speaking.
Flacco returned to the Browns for his second stint ahead of the 2025 NFL season to try to stabilize the QB spot.
They rotated through four starters last season.
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The 40-year-old was originally drafted back in 2008 by Baltimore and played 11 seasons for the Ravens.
Having been picked up in the first round, he led them to a Super Bowl victory in 2012.
He was traded in 2019 to the Denver Broncos, but only lasted one season before being released.
From there, he continued to bounce around teams, spending time with the Jets, Eagles and Jets again, before his first season with the Browns.
He started last year as the number two QB at the Indianapolis Colts but played eight games after Anthony Richardson went down in Week 4.
He threw for 1,761 yards and 12 touchdowns, but the Colts failed to make the playoffs, and he rejoined the Browns.
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