Joe Flacco has never been one to sugarcoat things, and Shedeur Sanders found that out the hard way during their time together with the Cleveland Browns. In a scene from the Netflix series Quarterback, Flacco didn't just critique the rookie's choice of headgear—he went full elder-statesman mode, calling the visor a pointless fashion statement.
“Yeah, but if you wear a visor, it's for looks,” Flacco told Sanders during a training camp practice. “You think you look sweet. It's that era. I don't want my kids to wear visors either. They all want visors. I'm like, 'Guys, they're just annoying. They're gonna fog up.' They [expletive] suck, dude. It's all about look.”
The former Super Bowl MVP didn't stop there. He drove home the point with a message any young quarterback should probably take to heart: “You're a quarterback, bro, you're [expletive] wearing a visor? You look like a [expletive] idiot. If you're a quarterback, you can tell when you're trying to look too sweet.”
Flacco, who started the 2025 season as Cleveland's QB1 before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in early October, clearly sees himself as a mentor—even if his mentorship style leans more toward tough love than gentle guidance. The exchange, captured by Netflix cameras, has already sparked debate among fans about whether the visor is a harmless accessory or a sign of misplaced priorities for a young signal-caller.
For Sanders, the criticism comes at a pivotal moment. After a rookie season where he completed just 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, he's now locked in a battle with Deshaun Watson for the starting job. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot recently noted that Sanders has made such a strong push in recent weeks that the team is reconsidering its QB1 plans.
“I think Shedeur has come on so strong in the last few weeks that it's making them think maybe we should see what he can do in training camp before we decide that perhaps Deshaun Watson is QB1,” Cabot said.
Sanders has said his focus is on getting comfortable in Todd Monken's scheme and “playing with confidence.” Whether that confidence extends to ditching the visor remains to be seen, but Flacco's message was clear: function over fashion. The veteran's rant also echoed a broader sentiment among older quarterbacks who see the visor as a relic of a flashier era—one that doesn't belong under center.
Meanwhile, the Browns' quarterback situation remains one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the 2026 season. If Sanders can shake off the visor critique and prove he's more than just a pretty accessory, he might just win the job. But if he keeps wearing it, he'll have to deal with the consequences—including, apparently, the disapproval of a Super Bowl-winning mentor.
For more on the NFL's evolving quarterback dynamics, check out Paul Skenes stunned by reporter's 'Future Yankee' jab during media session.
