Joe Flacco's impressive net worth, Colts salary, wife's brutal eight-word advice

Joe Flacco is set to return to the pitch as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, continuing his impressive 17-year career. The former Super Bowl champion joined the Colts on a one-year contract in March and has since replaced previous starter Anthony Richardson following a challenging start to the season.

made a significant impact in the week four match against the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing a 27-24 victory, and impressed with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a close 37-34 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since then, the veteran star has been the starting player in every game and is set to begin the game against the Minnesota Vikings in week nine, as reported by ESPN.

Despite representing six teams throughout his NFL career, the 39-year-old has become a mainstay in the league, earning the nickname 'Joe Cool' for his ability to manage pressure during the regular season and playoffs. So, what does earn, what is his net worth, and what unusual source of advice has he received during his time in the NFL?

Celebrity Net Worth reports that Flacco has amassed a staggering £65.6million ($85m) from his 17-year NFL career. The quarterback's earnings exceed £134.7m ($175m) in NFL salary alone, placing him among the league's top earners.

This huge net worth can be attributed to the lucrative contracts he signed with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos. Following the Ravens' 34-31 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Flacco became a free agent, making him eligible for a significant contract with any major team.

Consequently, on March 1, 2013, the sportsman signed a new deal with the Ravens valued at over £92.8m ($120.6m) spread over six years, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL at that time. During this period, Flacco earned a base salary of approximately £15.3m ($20m) over six years, equating to £130,000 ($170k) per in-season day.

In 2016, he extended his contract with the Ravens, which included a £46.1m ($60m) signing bonus, the largest in the league at that time.

After his stint in Baltimore, Flacco transferred to the Broncos and pocketed £23m ($30m) in the 2019 season despite participating in just eight games. He then moved to the New York Jets and signed a £1.15m ($1.5m) deal, but actually raked in more than £11.5m ($15m) due to a contract hold-out with the Broncos.

He continued to earn additional income from the Jets in 2021 and 2022, with his 2022 salary totalling £2.6m ($3.5m).

After being without a team for most of the 2023 season, Joe Flacco has secured a new one-year contract with the Colts that can add up to £6.6m ($8.7m). This deal also provides him with a secured sum of £3.4m ($4.5m), as per Rapoport.

Celebrity Net Worth estimates that the veteran quarterback's earnings are a whopping £297,000 ($387k). This marks a significant deal for a veteran quarterback who was presumed to be a second-string to the Colts' up-and-coming talent, Richardson.

Despite this, the Colts fans will continue to rely on the 39-year-old to steer their season in the right direction, as they aim to improve their 4-4 record.

Flacco's personal life is a testament to his enduring dedication on and off the field, and it is something he has often referred to during his career. He met his wife, Dana, in their youth and dated throughout college, before marrying in 2011.

Since his NFL journey kicked off in 2011, they have welcomed five children: sons Stephen, Daniel, Francis, Thomas and daughter Evelyn. As Flacco's career transported the family from Baltimore to Denver and New York, their bond only thrived, fuelling Joe's drive within the sport.

The 39-year-old harnessed the support of his family throughout his NFL exploits, particularly during the Cleveland Browns' charge to the Wild Card stage of the playoffs in 2023 - which was ended by the Houston Texans. In his reflection of these cherished moments, Flacco said in a post-game conference in 2023: "I can't say it enough, to have children that are of the age where they understand what's going on means I'm going to remember these things forever."

The quarterback also spoke about the joy that fatherhood has injected into his life with his wife in a promotional video for the Ravens. He said: "It's definitely changed how I spend time in the off-season. Me and my wife look at each other and wonder what we did before we had them, because you're just wrapped up in those guys. It's been a lot of fun."

He also recounted receiving some harsh criticism from his wife over his unusual positioning during a 2018 Ravens game. Flacco ended up lining up as a wide receiver to allow then-rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to steer the play.

However, Dana was less than impressed with his on-field demeanour. Flacco said: "My wife gave me crap the one day, told me I need to look more interested out there. But I'm just trying to stay out of it. I'm not comfortable out there. I don't need to get too creative."