Joe Flacco criticized Shedeur Sanders for wearing a helmet visor last season, saying, 'You look like an idiot.'

Joe Flacco’s Return in the 2026 NFL Season

It’s hard to believe, but the 2026 NFL season is almost here, and surprisingly, Joe Flacco is back in the mix.

The 41-year-old quarterback is now with the Cincinnati Bengals after being traded during the 2025 season. Prior to that, he spent training camp and the early weeks of the season with the Cleveland Browns, a team that boasted perhaps the most intriguing quarterback situation in the league.

Flacco was in a room with Kenny Pickett and two rookies, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. His main role was pretty clear—he was there to mentor the younger quarterbacks, helping them learn the complex nuances of playing at the highest level.

Interestingly, NFL coaches and executives have recently suggested that Patrick Mahomes is no longer viewed as the best quarterback in the league.

Sanders and Gabriel probably anticipated Flacco guiding them through reading defenses and tackling advanced strategies, but they might not have expected the unique lesson Flacco had in store regarding helmet visors.

In a new episode of Netflix’s “Quarterback,” Flacco gave a sharp critique of Sanders’ decision to sport a helmet visor during practice. At first, Sanders and Gabriel defended their choice, asserting the visor was a valid option for protection.

“Yeah, but the visor is for looks,” Flacco stated. “It’s all about how they think they look. This is the culture we’re in. I wouldn’t want my kids to wear visors either. They’re just a nuisance; it’s cloudy.”

He went on, “It’s awful. It’s not practical. When I was younger, I thought visors were cool, but, honestly, they suck.”

And he didn’t stop there. He suggested he’d insist on them wearing visors, only to have them point out, “But you’re a quarterback; you don’t wear one. You look dumb.”

And while it seems strange, Sanders was still donning a visor during minicamp this year, though it was less shiny than last season’s version.

The Browns’ preseason starts on August 15 against the Bears, and they’ll kick off the regular season on the road against the Jaguars on September 13. Meanwhile, Flacco and the Bengals will open up their preseason against the Lions before facing Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13.