The New York Giants could be reaching out to the Cincinnati Bengals to find out backup quarterback Joe Flacco's availability, after announcing Giants starter Jaxson Dart is expected to undergo surgery and miss the rest of the regular season.
A Giants-Bengals trade could reunite Flacco with head coach and Miami University graduate John Harbaugh, for whom Flacco played with the Baltimore Ravens
from 2008 to 2018.Dart suffered a knee injury Sunday night that was worse than anticipated after an MRI, per Ian Rapoport. Adam Schefter reported Dart suffered damage to his MCL, PCL and meniscus.
Harbaugh was asked Sept. 23 whether the Giants intend to bring in another quarterback.
"We will," Harbaugh said. "We will plan on doing that. Absolutely. I can't
say who at this point, but we're working on that."
Would the Bengals trade Joe Flacco to John Harbaugh, New York Giants?
Flacco appeared in one game for the Bengals this season but did not attempt a pass. He told starting quarterback Joe Burrow he thought Burrow's first touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase against the Houston Texans was "uncatchable."
Flacco, who turned 41 in January, played in nine games last season for the Bengals, making six starts after Burrow suffered a turf toe injury during a Week 2 win against Jacksonville. Flacco completed 158 of 254 pass attempts for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns.
In November 2025, Flacco played with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder during a 47-42 loss to the Chicago Bears. At 40 years old, Flacco became the oldest quarterback in NFL history to pass for 470 yards in a game.
Flacco, first acquired by Cincinnati from the Browns in October 2025, made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 18 NFL seasons. He threw a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins during the second quarter of the 2026 Pro Bowl Games Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, and added a touchdown pass to Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase in the third quarter.
Flacco became a free agent after the 2025 season. NFL Network reported that Flacco visited the Giants in March 2025. But he signed March 25 with the Bengals for $6 million for one season.
Flacco appeared on Kevin Clark's "This Is Football" podcast and shared remarks about how football has changed during his NFL career, in addition to how the NFL develops quarterbacks now. He was also featured on the "Quarterback" show on Netflix.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Dart-less Giants pursue trade for Flacco, Harbaugh reunion?
