QB Joe Flacco can still picture himself as a rookie on the Ravens in 2008, standing in Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's office getting ready for a playoff run.
Now, 17 years later, he's making his return to Baltimore for the first time since leaving the Ravens after the 2018 season. On Sept. 14, when the Browns and Ravens face off at M&T Bank Stadium, Flacco will start for the Browns against a team and a city that he spent the first 11 years of his career in.
"I have so many good memories with those people and that city and that stadium, so it's a very special place," Flacco said. "I think I'm very capable of seeing it as another division game, but it will be cool to go back in that stadium. I haven't had a chance to do it since I played (in Baltimore)."
While he makes his return to Baltimore, Flacco has faced the Ravens once before as the quarterback for an opposing team. In 2022, Flacco faced the Ravens as a member of the Jets in the season opener, but the game was in East Rutherford, N.J. and didn't give Flacco his Baltimore reunion. The Ravens beat the Jets 24-9 and Flacco had 300 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Flacco said that since he's played the Ravens before, it will make the environment before the game feel a little bit more normal.
"I definitely think playing them in the past and getting that kind of getting that little bit out of the way, I do think that was probably – even though it wasn't in Baltimore, like just from playing the Baltimore Ravens, like getting that out of the way already will make this a little bit easier," Flacco said.
However, there will be some familiar faces in Baltimore that can make it feel like more than just another game. Flacco has family coming down from New Jersey to come watch the Browns play the Ravens. He said he also plans to head out of the Browns locker room 10 minutes earlier during warm-ups to connect with people from his time in Baltimore.
One of those people will be Harbaugh, who came into the league the same year as Flacco, getting his first NFL head coaching gig in 2008. Harbaugh in his first NFL draft as the Ravens head coach took a chance on Flacco, then just an FCS star out of Delaware, with the 18th overall pick and made him his quarterback in Baltimore for 11 seasons.
"It's also pretty cool that we're 18 years in and we're still doing the same things," Flacco said. "Anytime you've been through the stuff that we've been through, you have a pretty cool relationship."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) and Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive Assistant Zach Dunn during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Even the man game planning on the Ravens sideline for Flacco and the Browns' offense is someone Flacco knows and has a relationship with. Zach Orr, Flacco's former teammate from 2014-16, is now the Ravens defensive coordinator and will be in charge of keeping Flacco in check.
Against a Ravens' defense and a defensive coordinator who's familiar with Flacco, Cleveland's offense has to stay disciplined and not win the game for Baltimore. In Week 1, the Bengals' defense forced Flacco and the Browns' offense to make mistakes, intercepting two of Flacco's passes.
"We just have to play a little bit cleaner," Flacco said. "We have a lot of the ability to do some really good things this year. We just have to make sure that we clean up some things and don't get in our own way."
A missed catch from WR Jerry Jeudy that bounced off his hands led to one of Flacco's interceptions in Week 1. For Jeudy, cleaning up the passing offense in time for Sunday comes down to communication and repping more with Flacco in practice so that the offense and Flacco are in rhythm.
"We just need to keep speaking about what we see on the field," Jeudy said. "Keep talking about what we need to do better and during practice, just continue getting more reps. Talk through plays and just make sure we're on the same page."
The on-field chemistry will continue to improve as the offense goes through adjustments, just like Flacco will have to adjust to playing in Baltimore as a visitor. Flacco, however, isn't worried about his emotions taking over. He said he has been criticized for not showing much emotion throughout his career. Even if he does decide to show emotion about his time in Baltimore, nobody is going to know.
On Sept. 14, Flacco's ultimate goal against the Ravens is to win. Flacco said his relationship with Baltimore ended amicably, but there's still a little more of a fire underneath Flacco to beat the Ravens than any other team.
"We were on good terms when I left, but at the same time, it's natural to feel a certain way when you're going up against a team that you're not playing for anymore," Flacco said. "I've been a part of other players that do that, and you try to act normal, but it is a big deal. You do want to go beat them."
