New York Jets bring back QB Joe Flacco on 1-year deal

Quarterback Joe Flacco is returning to the New York Jets on a one-year deal, his agency, JL Sports, announced Wednesday.

The contract is worth $3.5 million, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Jets secured their quarterback depth chart in one day. In addition to retaining Flacco as Zach Wilson's primary backup, they tendered Mike White -- a restricted free agent -- at the original-round level ($2.54 million), a source said. That means the Jets would receive a fifth-round pick as compensation if they decline to match an offer sheet for White, a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2018.

Flacco and White ended last season as the No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks, respectively. White started two games, including a 443-yard passing day in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP, has bounced around the league in recent years. After an 11-year run with the Baltimore Ravens, highlighted by a Super Bowl championship for the 2012 season, he went to the Denver Broncos (2019) to the New York Jets (2020) to the Philadelphia Eagles (2021) and back to the Jets.

He was traded to the Jets on Oct. 25 when Wilson went down with a knee injury. Desperate for quarterback insurance, the Jets sent a 2022 sixth-round pick to the Eagles. Flacco, who turned 37 in January, never saw action with the Eagles, who gave him a one-year, $3.5 million contract last offseason to back up Jalen Hurts.

Flacco's availability in New York was delayed because, as an unvaccinated player, he needed five days to satisfy the league's COVID-19 protocols. He wound up playing only two games for the Jets -- a mop-up appearance in a blowout loss and another loss in a start against the Miami Dolphins. He played reasonably well against Miami, passing for 291 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Upon Wilson's return, Flacco went back to the bench for the final seven games, but he was active as the No. 2 quarterback, ahead of White. Coach Robert Saleh praised the veteran for mentoring the Jets' young quarterbacks.

Flacco is fifth in career passing yardage among active quarterbacks (41,269), behind Tom Brady,Matt Ryan, Aaron RodgersandMatthew Stafford. Flacco is sixth in touchdown passes (227), behind Brady, Rodgers, Ryan, Stafford andRussell Wilson.

ESPN's Rich Cimini contributed to this report.