Joe Flacco’s Influence and the Helmet Visor Debate

The 2026 NFL season is rapidly approaching, and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is set to play another season, this time with the Cincinnati Bengals after being traded in 2025. Flacco began the previous season with the Cleveland Browns, where he was part of a memorable quarterback lineup including Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Flacco’s role was to mentor the young quarterbacks, providing guidance in navigating the complexities of NFL gameplay.

Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns was seen in action against the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field on September 21, 2025. The expectations for him to guide Sanders and Gabriel were undoubtedly focused on reading defenses, recognizing blitzes, and mastering a complex playbook. However, a lighter note emerged with Flacco giving an unexpected lesson about helmet visors during a practice session.

In Netflix’s “Quarterback” show, Flacco expressed his dislike for visors, insisting they are more about appearance. Though Sanders and Gabriel viewed visors as practical eye shields, Flacco disagreed. “If you wear a visor, it’s for looks,” he stated, expressing concern about the inconvenience of visors fogging up during play. During discussions, he insisted visors were more about style rather than functionality.

Despite Flacco’s strong stance, Shedeur Sanders continued to wear a visor, albeit with a clearer finish compared to the previous season. As the Browns and Sanders geared up for their preseason start against the Bears on August 15, and their regular season opener against the Jaguars on September 13, it was evident Sanders valued style along with performance.

For Flacco at the Bengals, their preseason opener against the Lions and regular season matchup hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13 holds promise without the extra flair of a visor. His longstanding career since 2008 has surely earned him respect, allowing for such candid opinions.