There was a time when it felt like the entire future of the Indianapolis Colts rested on Anthony Richardson’s shoulders. But after Daniel Jones guided the team to a 3-1 start in 2025, many seem to have already forgotten Richardson exists.
Here’s a look back at why he was benched for Jones in the first place and what the future might hold for the 23-year-old quarterback.
Why Did the Colts Bench Anthony Richardson for Daniel Jones?
The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping he would become their franchise quarterback. The reasoning behind the draft selection made sense. You could attempt to build a quarterback in a lab, and you likely wouldn’t get a player with the raw traits Richardson has.
He has prototypical NFL size, standing at 6’4″ and weighing 245 pounds. He’s an athletic freak at the position, posting a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and on top of that, he arguably has the best arm talent in the entire league.
So what went wrong? Despite all his tools, Richardson has struggled to find consistency early in his NFL career. In his two seasons as the Colts’ starter, he missed multiple games due to injuries, starting only 15 of 34 contests.
However, Richardson’s biggest issue has been his inconsistency as a passer. In 2024, a season many hoped would be his breakout year, he completed just 126 of 264 attempts, throwing for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
After Richardson’s poor performance in 2024, the Colts’ front office made an insurance move at quarterback, signing Jones, who had been the New York Giants’ starter since 2019, in free agency.
Heading into training camp, it was expected that Richardson would still win the starting job, but it was clear he would face an open competition with Jones. Coming off a rough season in New York and being cut mid-season, few expected Jones to come out victorious in the quarterback battle.
However, as training camp continued, Jones outperformed Richardson. After Richardson suffered yet another injury in the first week of the preseason, Jones would go on to be named the team’s starter, a move that shocked many.
The decision has proven to be the right one. Through four games, Jones ranks as the best quarterback in the NFL according to PFSN’s QBi metric, while leading the Colts to the third-ranked offense in the league according to PFSN’s OFFi metric.
Richardson now serves as Jones’ backup, and with the way Jones is playing, his future in Indianapolis looks bleak. There have been rumors that he could be traded at some point this season, and at only 23 years old, he still has a chance to start elsewhere in the NFL.
It’s a story the NFL has seen before. While Richardson’s physical traits give teams reason to hope he can still become an elite quarterback, he must improve his durability and consistency as a passer if he wants another shot in the league.
