Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts will have a quarterback competition between third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and new free agent acquisition Daniel Jones. And while perhaps not all Colts fans are eager to see a quarterback battle, Zaire Franklin is eager to see both players tested against one another.
It could be argued that Richardson perhaps hasn’t gotten a fair shot as the team’s starter. After all, Richardson has less than a full season, just 15 total games, under his belt as the team’s starter over the past two years.
Some of that is due to injuries suffered by Richardson. Some has been due to the Colts’ decision to bench Richardson in favor of a 40-year-old Joe Flacco. And some of it is due to inconsistent play from Richardson and a short leash from the Colts’ coaching staff.
Regardless of whatever reason the Colts opted to test Richardson heading into 2025, Richardson will now have to fight to reclaim his starting job. And Zaire Franklin is excited to see how both quarterbacks perform, sharing his enthusiasm for the decision on Friday’s edition of Good Morning Football.
“I love Anthony,” Franklin said. “Obviously, being in there with him in the trenches through the highs and lows of the season last year, it was tough, but I’m obviously supporting him and his growth. The only answer to competition is to put your head down and grind. Like I said, that’ll bring out the best out of everybody involved in the situation.”
“Competition brought out the best in me in my career. When I came in, with Darius Leonard, Bobby Okereke, Anthony Walker, E.J. Speed, those guys made me better every single day. I learned so much from their game, and they learned from me. That’s part of the reason why we were so successful because we were able to grow together. So, competition’s going to help everybody. Obviously, I still love Anthony, still believe in Anthony, but I know Daniel Jones is going to help elevate that room, too.”
Only time will tell whether Richardson rises to the occasion in this battle for the starting quarterback job or crumbles under the pressure. But either way, Franklin believes a battle will help solve the quarterback problem in Indianapolis.