‘The AFC may have lost the Pro Bowl, but Joe Flacco walked away with a personal victory that eclipsed any scoreboard. His head coach for the AFC team was a familiar face, as the veteran quarterback for the Bengals shared a throwback picture from his childhood. Flacco posted the picture on Wednesday and wrote a heartfelt message for 49ers legend QB Steve Young in the caption.

“Full circle moment being coached by @steveyoung last night.” Bengals’ QB wrote. “This was me as a 12-year-old in his Jersey playing backyard football with my brothers. @nfl @bengals My brothers in my dad’s Alma Mater @byufootball jerseys.”

The full circle moment in the caption refers to the fact that Steve Young is now coaching Flacco during the 2026 AFC Pro Bowl. Young, the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, served as the head coach for the AFC roster and oversaw Flacco’s performance alongside Bengals teammates Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.

Joe Flacco’s connection to Steve Young has always lived more in admiration. Growing up in New Jersey, Flacco famously wore Young’s No. 12 jersey, modeling his game after one of the most efficient left-handed quarterbacks in the NFL. But despite that early influence, their football journeys never actually intersected.

With Hall of Famer Steve Young coaching the AFC side, the game leaned heavily into storytelling rather than competition. The NFC ultimately claimed a 66–52 win, but the final score was secondary to the individual flashes that punctuated the exhibition. For Flacco, that flash came in the form of a deep touchdown throw to Higgins.

Young’s playing career ended in 1999, nearly a decade before Flacco entered the NFL in 2008, and the Hall of Famer never transitioned into coaching roles that could have brought their paths together. What unfolded during the Pro Bowl Games, then, was a full-circle moment, just like Flacco mentioned.

The Bengals quarterback has enjoyed an extraordinary 2025 season. At the start of the year, Flacco was with the Cleveland Browns but was benched after four games. On October 7, he was traded to the Bengals, who needed a starter after Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury. This change gave Flacco a new chance to shine.

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Flacco’s journey from a midseason trade to starring in the Pro Bowl under Steve Young’s coaching highlights his resilience and strong performance, proving he remains a valuable asset for the Bengals.

Joe Flacco honors Steve Young during Pro Bowl appearance

Joe Flacco honored Steve Young during his Pro Bowl appearance, reflecting on the NFL heroes he admired growing up. Flacco highlighted the personal connection and the lasting influence of watching Young and Joe Montana win games on his early football passion.

“Growing up, you watched the shots of Montana and Steve winning games,” Flacco said. “They were built up in my mind as one of the top NFL teams. To play against them and ultimately beat them in the Super Bowl was special.”

Growing up, the 49ers dynasty led by Joe Montana and Steve Young represented the gold standard of NFL excellence in Flacco’s mind. Beating the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII was a special moment for Flacco, as he defeated the very team that set the standard for him as a young player.

The Pro Bowl honor adds to Joe Flacco’s long list of achievements, including winning Super Bowl XLVII MVP. Now heading into free agency, his future is unclear. The Bengals may want him back, but Flacco has said he still hopes to be a starting quarterback.