Browns Name Joe Flacco Week 1 Starter: What It Means for Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel & Cleveland’s 2025 Season

Young Horn
Aug 18
3 min read

Why the Browns Chose Joe Flacco

The Cleveland Browns made it official: 40-year-old Joe Flacco will be their Week 1 starting quarterback when they open the 2025 NFL season against division-rival Cincinnati.

This decision wasn’t about long-term future—it was about stability, leadership, and health.

System familiarity: Flacco thrived in Kevin Stefanski’s offense before, leading the Browns on a 4-1 run in 2023 that secured a playoff spot.
Health: Unlike his competition, rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel—both slowed by injuries—Flacco stayed on the field and took nearly all the first-team reps during camp.
Veteran leadership: Stefanski and teammates repeatedly praised his calm, even-keeled presence. He brings credibility to a QB room filled with youth and question marks.

Impact on Shedeur Sanders & Dillon Gabriel

Shedeur Sanders

Drafted: 5th round, 2025 NFL Draft
Strengths: Poised pocket passer, strong decision-maker, natural leader.
Setback: Injured oblique in camp limited his reps just as he began gaining momentum.
Forecast: Once healthy, Sanders projects as the heir apparent to Flacco. He may spend most of 2025 learning, but fans shouldn’t be surprised if he sees the field by midseason if injuries or inconsistency strike.

Dillon Gabriel

Drafted: 3rd round, 2025 NFL Draft
Strengths: Lefty with mobility, quick release, strong collegiate production.
Setback: Hamstring injury slowed development; hasn’t seized first-team opportunities.
Forecast: Gabriel faces a tougher path. He may begin as the QB3 and must prove himself in preseason finale reps to secure a 53-man spot. Could become a high-upside developmental piece, or risk being stashed on the practice squad.

QB Room Forecast: 2025 and Beyond

Short-Term: Flacco holds the job until performance dips or injury opens the door. He’s a bridge, not the future.
Medium-Term: Sanders has the best chance to succeed Flacco. His skillset matches Stefanski’s system, and teammates already respect his work ethic.
Long-Term: Gabriel could grow into a solid backup or trade asset if Sanders develops into QB1.

The Browns’ QB future hinges on how fast Sanders can adapt and whether Gabriel proves he belongs at the NFL level.

Early-Season Schedule Breakdown

The Browns don’t get any easing into the year—the opening stretch will test whether Flacco can still hang at a high level:

Week 1: @ Bengals (Sept. 7)Divisional gauntlet right away. Flacco’s experience against aggressive defenses will be crucial.
Week 2: vs. Ravens A matchup with his old team. Storylines will dominate, but the Browns’ defense will need to keep Lamar Jackson in check.
Week 3: vs. Dolphins Miami’s speed will test Cleveland’s secondary. The offense must control possession to keep Tua and Tyreek Hill off the field.
Week 4: @ Steelers AFC North slugfest—turnovers and field position will decide it.

Forecast: If the Browns go 2–2 or better in this brutal stretch, Flacco’s starting gig will look justified. Anything worse, and the calls for Sanders could grow louder.

Flacco’s Past with the Browns: Proof of Concept

Cleveland already saw the Flacco effect in 2023, when he rescued a QB-depleted team and carried them to the postseason. That run earned him NFL Comeback Player of the Year and made him a fan favorite in a city desperate for stability at quarterback.

His past success is why fans and coaches trust him now, even at 40.

Leadership, Experience & 2025 Expectations

Flacco isn’t the long-term savior. But for this season, he is:

The voice in the huddle rookies can learn from.
A steady hand against early-season chaos.
The best chance at maximizing a playoff-caliber roster’s potential.

Cleveland’s defense remains one of the NFL’s elite units. If Flacco minimizes mistakes and keeps the offense on schedule, the Browns should remain firmly in the AFC playoff hunt.

Realistic Projection: 9–10 wins, Wild Card contention, Sanders waiting in the wings.

Naming Joe Flacco as QB1 is both a short-term safety net and a long-term bridge. It protects a playoff-ready roster from rookie growing pains, while giving Sanders and Gabriel the chance to develop at the right pace.

For now, the Browns are betting on experience—and if Flacco delivers another late-career magic run, Cleveland could become one of the AFC’s most dangerous wild cards.