Shedeur Sanders instant reaction to Joe Flacco being traded to the Bengals

Shedeur Sanders was blindsided by the trade of Joe Flacco, here's what he had to say about the trade.

Sep 14, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, it was announced that the Week 1 starter for the Cleveland Browns, Joe Flacco, was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for a fifth-round pick. Flacco had just recently been benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel in Week 5. 

Even with the benching, the trade was shocking to most Browns fans and members of the media. Flacco did underperform dramatically, though, in his four starts as he threw for just two touchdown passes and six interceptions. 

Cleveland has not had the short end of the stick in terms of quarterback drama throughout the offseason, as a new story emerges every day. After passing up on Shedeur Sanders six times, the Browns traded up to select the star Colorado quarterback, right after selecting Dillon Gabriel the day before.

There was considerable controversy online about who should start at quarterback for the Browns, especially with the team beginning the preseason with four quarterbacks on the roster. But now it’s just two of those four who are on the active roster after Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco were traded away. 

After Flacco was traded away, Sanders was asked for his reaction to the trade.

“He's definitely somebody I leaned on for wisdom, and I feel like he helped me a lot with my time being here in Cleveland, and his time being here in Cleveland. So now you know everybody has their own destinies and have their own plans they have in life, so I'm just happy for him.”

Sanders also expressed that he spoke to Flacco after the trade went down with a smile and conveyed that the trade happened quickly. 

#Browns back-up QB Shedeur Sanders speaks exclusively to @fox8news @John_Sabol about the trade of Joe Flacco to the #Bengals. pic.twitter.com/PDQF6ihBz1

— P.J. ZIEGLER (@PJFOX8) October 7, 2025

The trade commenced very fast after Flacco was benched, and Kevin Stefanski had high praise for the veteran after naming him the second-string quarterback. 

“This is not about one person. Joe is a captain of this football team and will need his leadership going forward ... Excited for Dillon.”

A bittersweet trade for a young quarterback like Sanders to realize, as Flacco was a guy that he could talk to day in and day out about all the things it takes to be a quarterback at the highest level. On the contrary, it opens up the second-string quarterback position for Sanders to grab. 

As Sanders feels like he is ready to play now and step in for Cleveland, this trade improves his chances of seeing playing time and also possibly starting in the future.