Joe Flacco is ready to take on a new role in his career not only as a backup but as a mentor.
The Jets signed Flacco to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million deal that maxes out at $4.5 million with incentives. While Flacco does feel like he as some football left in him at age 35, he also understands that his value is going to come from being a voice that Sam Darnold can count on to be successful.
“I want to, first and foremost, help the team in any way possible, but also be a guy that Sam can lean on and can learn from,” Flacco said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I would say those are the two most important things; to help out the guys on the team and to help out Sam to do all he can.”
Flacco’s veteran presence should assist Darnold in his development as a quarterback. Flacco has never been considered a top quarterback in the NFL, but he knows firsthand what it takes to win at the highest level. Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2013, defeating the San Francisco 49ers. He was named Super Bowl MVP, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
Flacco is not a quarterback who lights up the stat sheet, but the guy knows how to win. He is the 15th-winningest quarterback in NFL history with 108 total victories. Flacco is ahead of some of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Troy Aikman, Ken Stabler and Steve Young.
The Jets never want to see Flacco on the field in 2020, but they signed him for a reason. They need him to use his past experiences to help Darnold make a big jump as starting quarterback in the NFL.
For what it’s worth, he sounds like he’s all in.