The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2025 offseason with a quarterback competition that would define their direction.
Head coach Shane Steichen made his choice by naming Daniel Jones as the starter over Anthony Richardson for what many consider a make-or-break season.
The decision leaves Richardson in an uncertain position as he seeks the playing time necessary for his continued development.
Richardson’s path forward became a topic of discussion when general manager Chris Ballard addressed the media following the announcement of the initial 53-man roster.
When asked about the thoroughness of their pre-draft evaluation of Richardson, Ballard offered a candid assessment of their decision-making process.
“We knew he was raw, and we knew he was going to take time — I think everybody did. We knew it was going to be a bit of a roller coaster, absolutely, just based on his history in college. That’s part of the growth. Sometimes you have to take a swing, and we took one. Look, I’m not ready to say that we missed, because I don’t think we have. I believe Anthony has a bright future,” Ballard said.
Chris Ballard, asked if the #Colts did the right “homework” on Anthony Richardson before drafting him:
“We knew he was raw. … We took a swing and, look, I'm not ready to say that we missed because I don't think we have yet. I think Anthony has a bright future. I believe that.” pic.twitter.com/dG8T9EIe3a
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 28, 2025
Richardson has appeared in just 15 games across two NFL seasons.
His time with the Colts has been marked by injuries, preparation issues, and accuracy problems that have sparked early concerns about his potential.
At Florida, he completed 215 of 393 passes for a 54.7 percent completion rate despite showing flashes of his considerable talent.
Those accuracy concerns have followed him to the professional level. Richardson owns a 50.6 percent completion rate with 13 interceptions and 11 touchdowns through his 15 NFL appearances.
The numbers paint a picture of a player still searching for consistency.
Now entering his third season as a backup to Jones, Richardson finds himself in an unexpected situation.
The Colts hope this arrangement will allow him to observe veteran leadership while continuing his development away from the spotlight that has defined his early career.
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