Joe Flacco blindsided by Browns benching him for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel

Joe Flacco didn’t forecast Wednesday’s quarterback shakeup in Cleveland.

Speaking to the media after learning the Browns’ decision to bench him for rookie Dillon Gabriel after a 1-3 start, the 40-year-old veteran shared, “I don’t think I foresaw it.”

“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 [head coach] 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 said, according to Pro Football Talk.

Flacco, on his second turn in Cleveland after leading the team to a playoff berth in 2023, threw for two touchdowns and six interceptions in four games while completing 58.1 percent of his passes this season.

He’ll serve as the second quarterback on the depth chart behind Gabriel, the Brown’s third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, while fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders remains QB3.

“I think the best way to help him is continue to come to work with a good mindset every day and provide that positive energy and see what he needs on his end,” Flacco said. “Listen, he’s into it, man. He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”

The Browns are hopeful Gabriel, 24, provides a spark to an offense that is producing an average of 14 points per game — something Flacco addressed Wednesday.

“I think the tougher thing is going through what we’ve gone through over the last four weeks, just not being able to produce the way we wanted to,” he said.

Flacco rejoined the Browns in April after a stint with the Colts in 2024.

The Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Ravens threw 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions across eight games in Indianapolis.

Though ready to embrace his new role, Flacco didn’t discount the feeling of disappointment.

“I think every situation is unique. And I think you do get emotional about it, so it’s tough to, in the moment, draw on those experiences,” he said.

“So, you just kind of go back to being yourself and relying on the people around you to help you cope with it a little bit.”

Gabriel, drafted No. 94 overall out of Oregon, made two appearances in the preseason, throwing for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Browns will travel to London this week to face the 2-2 Vikings, who are coming off a 24-21 loss to the Steelers in Ireland.