The pressure is mounting on Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson. After two rocky seasons and a controversial mid-game exit, the young quarterback finds himself at a crossroads.
But his new boss isn’t giving up on him yet. New Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon delivered her first major interview since taking over the franchise following the passing of her father, Jim Irsay, and she had a clear message for her struggling quarterback: prove it.
Why Does Anthony Richardson Still Have a Chance to Prove Himself in Indianapolis?
Anthony Richardson has faced intense criticism for his performances as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback. The breaking point came during a Week 8 loss against the Houston Texans when his decision to remove himself from the game turned portions of the fanbase against him.
Despite the backlash, new team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon believes Richardson can still turn things around. At just 23 years old, he remains one of the most inexperienced starting quarterbacks in the NFL, having started only 28 games combined between college and professional football.
“Where he is in his career and in his deal as a rookie, we still have time,” Irsay-Gordon told the interviewer. “He still has time to prove it.”
However, that time comes with increased competition. This offseason, Colts general manager Chris Ballard emphasized the need for competition in the quarterback room, then signed former first-round pick Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract.
The vision: To be the best pic.twitter.com/g9hA90yURB
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 21, 2025
Irsay-Gordon backed this strategy completely, explaining that an open competition would “bring a sense of urgency. And nothing brings a sense of urgency more than competition.”
The owner also pointed to two examples of late bloomers within the organization. She highlighted Grover Stewart, a fourth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2017 who spent his first two seasons as a backup before emerging in year three. Stewart has since become one of the top run-stopping defensive tackles in the league and remains one of the longest-tenured players on the roster.
Additionally, Irsay-Gordon mentioned 2022 third-round pick Nick Cross, who started just two games early in his career before getting benched. Cross fought his way back to become the team’s starting safety during the 2024 season.
What Vision Does Irsay-Gordon Have for the Colts Moving Forward?
Beyond Richardson’s situation, Irsay-Gordon faces the challenging task of leading the franchise while grieving her father’s passing. Jim Irsay had planned this succession carefully, naming Irsay-Gordon and her sisters, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, as co-owners back in 2012.
The new CEO outlined her plan to continue building on her father’s foundation while setting an even higher standard for the organization.
RELATED: Daniel Jones Predicted To Beat Out Anthony Richardson in Highly Anticipated Colts’ QB1 Battle
“I don’t like talking just about winning. I like talking about being the best,” Irsay-Gordon said. “I feel like to say ‘win’ is just more outcome-oriented, right? It’s more outcome-oriented, more short-term. To me, it’s about being the best.”
Regardless, Richardson and former Giants’ starter Daniel Jones will battle it out for the job.
