Tomlin on Browns trading Flacco to Bengals: 'Doesn't make sense' - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — In an unusual move, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin openly questioned the Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry for the decision to execute a midseason trade sending quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

«To be honest, it was shocking to me,» Tomlin said Monday. «Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn't make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that's hurting in that area, but that's just my personal feelings.»

Tomlin doesn't often question or criticize other teams or their personnel in his news conferences, making his response to a question about Flacco's trade surprising.

Tomlin's comments come a day after the Steelers (4-1) beat the Browns and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel 23-9 and just three days before facing the Bengals in a primetime game in Cincinnati on Thursday night.

The Browns traded the 40-year-old Flacco, who started the first four games of the season for Cleveland after signing a one-year contract as a free agent in the offseason, and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Cincinnati for a 2026 fifth-round pick on Oct. 7. The Browns were left with a pair of rookies at quarterback in Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Bengals added Flacco to take over for Jake Browning, who struggled with six touchdowns to eight interceptions since taking over for Joe Burrow following Burrow's Week 2 turf toe injury.

Although Tomlin questioned the trade from Cleveland's perspective, when asked if Flacco fits with what Bengals coach Zac Taylor wants to on offense, the Steelers coach acknowledged it was a good move by Cincinnati.

«It certainly made sense from Cincinnati's perspective,»