No quarterback has more wins against Mike Tomlin than Joe Flacco. As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed that as a possibility for the Pittsburgh Steelers entering the 2026 season. On Thursday, Barnwell mentioned Flacco as a potential quarterback option for the Steelers next year.
Barnwell argued Flacco could be an alternative if the team sours on Aaron Rodgers during the final seven weeks of 2025.
“Unless the Steelers feel strongly about Murray (and the Cardinals do decide to move on from him), the answer is probably not, which could mean another go-round with Rodgers if he wants to keep playing,” Barnwell wrote. “The alternatives might be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Joe Flacco, who profile as higher-variance versions of Rodgers.”
Flacco has proven over the past month and a half with the Cincinnati Bengals that he can still sling it. In four games with the Bengals, he’s averaged 7.2 yards per pass with 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Flacco has posted a 102.6 passer rating during that stretch.
Despite the resurgent passing stretch for Flacco, he is 1-3 as the Bengals starter since getting traded across Ohio. His only victory came against the Steelers in Week 7.
Flacco is 11-11 against Tomlin in his career. Flacco’s 11 victories against Tomlin are tied for 11th most against one coach in NFL history according to SI on Steelers’ Jay Morrison.
The quarterback and head coach will square off again Sunday. The Week 11 matchup will be their 23rd meeting, which will tie them for the fourth most meetings between a quarterback and head coach all time.
Chuck Noll and Ken Anderson also met 23 times.
It’s a simple saying — if you can’t beat them, join them. But it could apply in this situation.
Tomlin has sent a lot of praise toward Flacco this year. Before Week 4, Tomlin even told reporters he wanted his team to be careful not to injure Anthony Richardson last season so Flacco, who was Richardson’s backup, wouldn’t enter the game.
The past two years, the Steelers have added cheap, aging quarterbacks in free agency. Flacco fits that bill and can’t be discredited as an option if a Rodgers return is off the table.
A week ago, pundits were more confidently saying yes to this question. But Rodgers posted his worst game of the season, and maybe one of the worst of his career, in Week 10.
Rodgers completed only 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Overall, Rodgers has been very good this season. If the campaign ended today, the Steelers would likely try to bring him back. Rodgers appears to have enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh, so it’s quite possible he’d want to return.
But whether those assumed feelings remain will depend on how the season ends. Rodgers can’t have many more performances like Week 10 if he wants the Steelers to re-sign him for 2026.
Should Rodgers bounce back, though, and the Steelers win enough games not to have a high draft pick, then Rodgers could again be the best, cheap free agent option for Pittsburgh next spring.
The New Orleans Saints are finalizing preparations for the stretch of the 2025 season, with roster moves settling in and young players carving out their first real roles. But away from the practice field, one surprising off-field decision has drawn national attention.
As the franchise locks in its 53-man roster, focus should be squarely on football. Yet, the personal lives of rookies often become intertwined with the spotlight, especially when outside distractions collide with the demands of the NFL.
This week, a first-year Saint made a headline-grabbing decision unrelated to football. For him, staying in New Orleans’ long-term plans meant not only competing on the field, but also managing the pressures of celebrity attention off it.
That rookie is running back Audric Estimé, who recently secured a spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster after being elevated from the practice squad. Shortly after that milestone, he ended his relationship with a well-known social media celebrity, an online star with millions of followers and a massive global audience.
The influencer built her brand through music, lifestyle content and viral posts that turned her into one of the most recognizable young digital personalities. Her reach and visibility inevitably brought heightened scrutiny onto Estimé as he adjusted to life in the NFL and tried to solidify his role in New Orleans.
The rookie explained his choice candidly in a private conversation that has since circulated among team circles:
“Right now, I need to focus on building my career with the Saints. There were too many cameras, too many eyes on my life off the field. I need peace, I need focus – if not, I will lose my chance and get left behind in New Orleans.”
Fans immediately reacted across X and Instagram, some applauding Estimé for putting football first, others sympathizing with his former girlfriend and questioning the pressure placed on young players to sacrifice their personal lives. The split fueled debate over the challenges rookies face in balancing relationships with the ruthless demands of professional sports.
For Audric Estimé, cracking the 53-man roster is only the beginning. By cutting ties with distractions and the glare of social media celebrity culture, the rookie signaled that his priority is clear: proving himself in the Saints’ backfield and earning trust in New Orleans for years to come.