Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ reveals how Bengals trading for Joe Flacco rejuvenated more than just his career
The Cincinnati Bengals trading for quarterback Joe Flacco during the 2025 season gave the 40-year-old a second chance on the field. The events leading up to the trade, however, were just as impactful.
The Cincinnati Bengals trading for quarterback Joe Flacco during the 2025 season gave the 40-year-old a second chance on the field. The events leading up to the trade, however, were just as impactful.
The Netflix original series “Quarterback,” which followed Flacco throughout the 2025 season, showed just how deeply his benching in Cleveland affected his wife Dana and the rest of the Flacco family before Cincinnati stepped in.
Joe Flacco’s benching left a mark on the whole gang
Flacco’s benching by the Cleveland Browns following Week 4 came earlier than anyone in his family anticipated. Dana believed her husband had at least one more game before Cleveland would look to either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders. The early timing was a punch to the gut.
“It was actually kind of affecting me,” Dana said during Episode 3 of the new season. “Like, really? Already? This kind of really stinks now. And now it’s like, now you’re far away. What are we doing?”
Flacco was living separately in Cleveland while his family remained in their home in New Jersey. The separation, combined with his reduced role, weighed on the family dynamic.
“The people that you love are so emotionally invested in this thing,” Flacco said. “It’s like, well, I signed up for it when you were the guy. And you were getting to do what you love. But now that you’re not, like, geez, we’re living far away from you.
“You could tell that hit her,” Flacco continued. “Like, oh my gosh, we’re gonna have to spend the next four months without you and you’re not even getting to do what we thought you were gonna do.”
The phone call that changed everything
The documentary revealed that Dana flew out to spend the week with Flacco after his benching. It was during that visit that Flacco discovered he was being traded to the Bengals.
“I was getting ready to go into the building,” Flacco said. “Just before I was getting ready to leave, I realized I missed a call.”
That call was from Browns general manager Andrew Barry, informing him of the trade to Cincinnati.
“You could see the smile on her face,” Flacco said.
The news gave Flacco a second chance and instilled life back into the most important person in his world.
“Someone wants you,” Dana said. “Which obviously everybody should want you, but yes, let’s go,”
Flacco should feel a lot better about his current situation
The Bengals finalized a rare interdivisional trade, sending their fifth-round pick for Flacco and Cleveland’s sixth-round pick. Cincinnati sent two drivers to help drive the husband and wife down from Cleveland so Flacco could speak with Bengals coach Zac Taylor on the phone the entire drive.
We all know the rest. Flacco started six games for Cincinnati and rejuvenated the tail end of his career. He played well enough for the Bengals to re-sign him this offseason over other interested teams.
Cincinnati now enters 2026 with a stacked quarterback room, and Flacco’s entire family can feel far more comfortable about what lies ahead without worrying about everything flipping upside down again.