49ers' Kyle Shanahan opens up about Browns savior Joe Flacco

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke glowingly during a Thursday appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR about quarterback and Baltimore Ravens legend Joe Flacco serving as a savior for the Cleveland Browns this season. 

"I don't think people have ever given Flacco enough credit for his whole career," Shanahan explained, as shared by David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I think he's been one of the better quarterbacks of the last 20 years. I thought he was unbelievable in Baltimore."

Shanahan noted that the 49ers tried to sign Flacco after the 2020 season and before the Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player joined the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2021. San Francisco more recently acquired Sam Darnold in free agency this past offseason, while Flacco remained available until the Browns came calling in November after they lost Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury.

Flacco thus far has gone 4-1 as a starter for the playoff-bound Browns (11-5) and has completed 60.3% of 204 total passes for 1,616 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

"Flacco has always been that type of thrower," Shanahan continued. "He's always been tough hanging in the pocket. He's got elite arm talent and he's a smart guy who's been around a lot of systems. His skill set never left. It's just sometimes you don't get that opportunity, you're not a starter anymore, you don't get in the best situation. But it has always kind of blew my mind on a number of places that he was going to be available at this time of year because he's always had some unbelievable talent."

As of late Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the 49ers as the betting favorites at -120 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII. That outlet had the Browns as +1400 underdogs to win the AFC Championship Game at that same time. 

Shanahan may find himself reviewing some of Flacco's Cleveland film come the final Monday of January.