Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Flacco voices strong reservations about the NFL's potential move to an 18-game regular season.
Joe Flacco is set to return to the Cincinnati Bengals for his 19th NFL season after re-signing on a one-year, $6 million deal with incentives in late March. The 41-year-old will continue in his role as Joe Burrow’s veteran backup, bringing experience and stability to the quarterback room. Flacco, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2025 while stepping in for Cincinnati, pointed to his comfort within the organization as a key reason for staying. “I love the building,” he said at the time.
Flacco has appeared in nine games for the Bengals, throwing for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He went 1-5 as a starter, but his value on the team extends far beyond the results on the field.
Flacco remains a steady presence in the locker room and will be a reliable option if called upon. If anything, his performance last season proved he still has something to offer when given the opportunity.
As Flacco prepares for another year on the field, he has also weighed in on one of the league’s ongoing debates. In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP expressed concern over the NFL’s continued push to expand the regular season to 18 games.
“It’s gotta stop at some point,” Flacco said. “What happens when we go to 18? Are they going to want 20? Are they going to want 22? We used to play 14 games before I was born. At some point it has to stop.”
The conversation around an 18-game schedule has been building for years. The league moved from 16 to 17 games in 2021, citing revenue growth and competitive balance, but players have consistently raised concerns about increased injury risk, reduced recovery time, and the long-term physical toll. Any further expansion would likely require adjustments to the preseason or bye weeks, and could tighten an already demanding calendar.
Flacco acknowledged that players may ultimately accept the change if it is implemented. “If we’re asked to play 18 games, I think you’re not going to see much difference, and it looks like we’re probably eventually going to play 18 games, and we’ll just have to do it,” he said.
A Super Bowl champion who has thrown for 48,176 yards and 272 touchdowns, Flacco offers the perspective of a player who has experienced nearly two decades of the NFL’s physical demands.
One would expect that the NFL Players Association will push for stronger protections, including improved medical support and compensation, if by any means the regular season schedule is extended further.