Nate Silver's ELWAY NFL Model Assesses Joe Flacco as 'Never Elite' Quarterback

Data journalist Nate Silver has launched his new NFL projection system, "ELWAY," on his Silver Bulletin platform, providing detailed career projections for current starters. In an early insight from the new model, Silver stated on social media, > "There is a lot of very cool data here, like career projections for every current starter. Joe Flacco was never an elite quarterback, FYI." The tweet, dated September 12, 2025, marks a significant moment for Silver's independent analytical work.

The ELWAY system, developed for Silver Bulletin subscribers, represents a deeper dive into football analytics, analyzing every professional game since 1920. Silver indicated that this new model aims to surpass the capabilities of his previous NFL models at FiveThirtyEight, offering more comprehensive and nuanced insights into player performance and career trajectories. This launch signals a renewed focus on sports analytics for the renowned statistician.

Joe Flacco, a Super Bowl XLVII champion with the Baltimore Ravens, has been a subject of continuous debate regarding his status among the NFL's top quarterbacks throughout his career. Despite winning the AP Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023 and remaining active in the league through the 2024-2025 season with teams like the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts, his overall performance metrics have often been scrutinized. Silver's definitive assessment adds a data-driven perspective to this ongoing discussion.

Silver's previous work at FiveThirtyEight also touched upon Flacco's performance, with analyses suggesting that while Flacco had moments of "clutch" play, his overall statistical profile and team support often factored significantly into his success. The "ELWAY" system's ability to process historical data from over a century of professional football provides a robust framework for such evaluations, aiming for objective conclusions on player effectiveness.

The introduction of the ELWAY system and its immediate, pointed assessment of a prominent veteran like Joe Flacco underscores Silver's commitment to data-driven sports commentary. This new analytical tool is poised to generate further discussion and provide a fresh lens through which to evaluate current and historical NFL player performance. The full scope of the ELWAY system's insights is now available to subscribers of Silver Bulletin.