Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco

Joseph Vincent "Joe" Flacco (born January 16, 1985) is an American football starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Delaware after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh. He was the 18th overall pick by the Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

In his rookie year, Flacco started all 16 regular season games and by leading the Ravens to two road wins in the 2008–09 NFL Playoffs, he became both the eighth rookie quarterback in NFL history to start a playoff game and the first rookie quarterback in league history to win two of them. In his second season, he improved his numbers, setting single season franchise records for completion percentage (63.1) and quarterback rating (88.9), and in his third season he became first all time in Ravens history for passing yards (10,206) and passing touchdowns (60). Flacco has set consecutive NFL records for most starts by a quarterback in each of his five seasons, bringing his team to the playoffs and winning at least one postseason game in each of those years. With Flacco as Baltimore's starting quarterback, the Ravens have won the AFC North twice, appeared in three AFC Championship Games, and won Super Bowl XLVII. Flacco was named Super Bowl XLVII's MVP, concluding a postseason run in which he tied Joe Montana's single postseason record for touchdown passes (11) without an interception.

Flacco is noted for his low-key demeanor and calm during games, giving him the nickname "Joe Cool," and for having one of the strongest arms in the NFL, which allows him to use an "aggressive, high-risk deep downfield passing game." On March 1, 2013, Flacco became the highest paid quarterback in NFL history.