Anthony Richardson Sr. is no longer the Colts starting quarterback.
Head coach Shane Steichen announced Tuesday that Daniel Jones will be the team’s starter in 2025, with Richardson being his backup.
Jones beat Richardson out in a competition for the spot, and while the race seemed to be too close to call at times, Richardson also seemed like he may have earned the job.
But that’s not the case. Richardson spoke for the first time since the decision on Tuesday, mentioning he wasn’t necessarily surprised to be given the tag of backup.
“We all knew somebody was gonna have to be at this end of the stick,” he said from the Colts locker room. He felt he had made the strides to retain his starting job for a third year running.
“I felt like I did improve…but there’s still ways I can improve.”
Richardson’s lack of consistency was what ultimately led Steichen to opt for Jones. Through two seasons, Richardson has not been consistently available or accurate, appearing in only 15 games (out of a possible 34) and throwing for a measly 47% completion rate.
While it is the third year in the NFL for Richardson, he is still young. At 23 years old, he knows he can still develop into a strong starter.
“I still got more time to grow.”
Despite the likely frustration, Richardson is still handling himself professionally, a positive sign for the Colts who have to make a decision on his future with the franchise in the next few seasons.
