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Browns Make Final Decision on Starting QB for 2025 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 2:36 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns have been one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason because of their intriguing quarterback situation. They currently have six of them on the roster, so fans all around the country have been dying to know who head coach Kevin Stefanski would name as the starter.

The Browns had a variety of options like their two rookie quarterbacks, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, or veteran Joe Flacco. It was a tough decision to make because each player showed a ton of promise during training camp, but sadly only one player could win.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced today that Stefanski is going forward with Flacco as the signal caller for the regular season.

Sources: Browns are naming Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starting quarterback vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. pic.twitter.com/XND3YQ0NrC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2025

This is to the dismay of many Sanders fans, who believe the team hasn’t given him a fair shake after performing well all through the summer and preseason, yet remaining stagnant on the unofficial depth chart.

Flacco was clearly the best option going forward if the team is looking to compete, but many would argue that Cleveland is in no position to do that.

They are a team that has heavily restricted resources due to quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract, so some people believed they should fully embrace the youth movement. However, for at least the beginning of the season, Flacco will take the reins.

The former Super Bowl champion was benched multiple times last season with the Indianapolis Colts, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to be replaced this year as well.

Sanders is already one of the most popular players in the NFL, so although Flacco gets the nod as the starter, the controversy around this position battle isn’t likely to end anytime soon.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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