Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters

Joseph V. Flacco

Legendary Blue Hen, after transferring to the University of Delaware in your sophomore year, you began your UD football career as practice squad quarterback before advancing to starting quarterback. In your senior year, you led the team to the Division I FCS National Championship game.

You were known at UD for your leadership, your constant drive for excellence, and your willingness to put in the work it would take to get there. You set 20 school records, including yards passed in a single season and career completions. You were inducted into the Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Super Bowl-winning quarterback, in 2008, you were a first-round NFL draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens and were later named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. You played for the Ravens until 2018, leading them to six playoffs, three AFC championships and a 2012 Superbowl win, for which you were named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

You have since played for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns. Although you were signed to the Browns’ practice squad in 2023, you soon found yourself its starting quarterback. Your league-setting passing game helped you to lead the team to a playoff berth and secure yourself the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award. In March of this year, you were named a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.

Generous alumnus, you and your wife, Dana, gave significant support to the University in support of student-athletes by funding the Flacco Strength and Conditioning Center at the state-of-the-art Whitney Athletic Center. Your gift, you noted, would help UD to recruit student-athletes and give them the best chance to compete and continue the University’s tradition of success.

Throughout your college and professional career, you have demonstrated time and again the teamwork, perseverance, work ethic, and drive toward excellence that have helped you to succeed.

Therefore, under the authority of the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware, I have the honor of conferring on you, Joseph V. Flacco, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In testimony thereof, I am pleased to present to you this diploma.

Terri L. Kelly
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
May 25, 2024