Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson could end up rehabilitating his career with the Green Bay Packers, similar to how Malik Willis revitalized his
14:46 ET, 14 Mar 2026
Quarterback Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts interact following an NFL football game, at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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Could Anthony Richardson (R) end up revitalizing his career in Green Bay, like Malik Willis (L) did?(Image: Getty Images)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson could be set to follow Malik Willis' footsteps after it was reported the Green Bay Packers could be a potential landing spot for the former fourth overall pick.
Richardson's time in Indianapolis is over after the team granted him permission to seek a trade. Drafted fourth overall by the Colts in 2023 out of Florida, the 23-year-old was viewed as a raw but talented prospect, who was named Indianapolis' starter during his rookie season. However, his rookie campaign was derailed by a shoulder injury, and his play the following year was undulating. The addition of Daniel Jones last season, who recently signed a two-year deal with Indianapolis, means the Colts are ready to cut ties with Richardson.
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And a potential landing spot has emerged in the form of the Green Bay Packers, who are on the hunt for a backup quarterback after Willis recently signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency to become their new starter after they moved on from Tua Tagovailoa.
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Posting on X, Indianapolis' ESPN reporter, Stephen Holder, confirmed Green Bay could be where Richardson lands via a trade, in a move that would see him link up with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who helped develop Willis game.
Holder wrote: "Update on Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who is available via trade. No deal is imminent, per multiple sources. There are interested teams, but the dust is still settling from free agency. One particular team to monitor: the Green Bay Packers."
The ESPN reporter added that Richardson is interested in joining a team with a proven quarterback developer, one of whom is LaFleur. While his current head coach, Shane Steichen, is also a top offensive-minded coach, the development of quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts was aided by their experience as college starters, something Richardson was not during his time at Florida.
Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts throws the ball during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 5, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Anthony Richardson's time in Indianapolis is over(Image: Getty Images)
During his college career, Richardson made just 13 starts for the Gators prior to being drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Colts. Despite a promising start during the 2023 season, his season was ended by a shoulder injury.
The following year, Richardson missed time during the season after being benched for poor play and after voluntarily taking himself out of a game for "a breather" during a 23-20 defeat to the Houston Texans in Week 8.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts stands on the field following an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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Richardson could end up in Green Bay as a Packer(Image: Getty Images)
While he returned to the lineout, he returned as the Colts' starter later on in the season. He lost out on the starting quarterback job to Daniel Jones this past season. He would have played following Jones' season-ending injury, but was unable to feature for Indianapolis last season after he was placed on injured reserve after fracturing the orbital bone in his eye in a freak pregame warmup accident.
Should he land in Green Bay, Richardson has the chance to sit behind a starter in the form of Jordan Love, and hone his craft under LaFleur, who helped revitalise Willis' career after a tough start in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
The 26-year-old was also a raw prospect out of Liberty, with Tennessee drafting him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, when he was handed a start during his rookie season, Willis was nowhere near ready to see the field.
Malik Willis
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Malik Willis impressed during his time with Green Bay(Image: Getty Images)
In 2024, he was traded to the Packers for a seventh-round pick, a move that paid immediate dividends for Green Bay after he guided them to back-to-back wins against the Colts and Titans in Weeks 2 and 3 of the 2024 season following an injury to Jordan Love.
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Willis also saw playing time last season too, with him shining when he was in the lineup. And his strong play ultimately culminated in him landing with the Dolphins this offseason, with Willis recently signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal to join Miami.