The 2025 season is a pivotal year for Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts. The team won just eight games in Shane Steichen’s second season, and Richardson had a tumultuous season.
One former NFL scout thinks Richardson’s career in Indianapolis could be ending, given his attitude last season, and that the team signed a big-money quarterback.
Ex-Scout Thinks Daniel Jones Will Beat Out Anthony Richardson as Colts’ QB1
The Colts missed the playoffs by one game in 2023 after finishing with a 9-8 record in Steichen’s first season at the helm. Richardson only played four games because of a concussion and a season-ending shoulder injury, amassing a 2-2 record.
The jury was still out on Richardson, given the small sample size, but he flashed his dual-threat ability, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for four more.
Richardson entered 2024 as the starter and struggled to find his footing all season. He missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury and pulled himself from the team’s Week 8 game against the Houston Texans for a play in the third quarter. Richardson went 10-of-32 for 175 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 45 rushing yards that game.
He was benched for Joe Flacco the following week after completing just 44.3% of his passes to that point. Richardson finished 2024 with 1,814 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on 47.7% passing. He added 499 yards and six rushing scores but is on shaky ground heading into 2025.
The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract this offseason and expect him to compete with Richardson for the starting job. Jones is coming off a rough 2024 after being released by the New York Giants in late November. He finished the season as Sam Darnold’s backup for the Minnesota Vikings and signed with Indianapolis in free agency.
Ex-NFL scout John Middlekauf hosts the “3&OUT with John Middlekauf” podcast, and he recently discussed the Colts’ quarterback situation.
“Shane Steichen said, ‘We are gonna split the reps evenly throughout OTAs. Give or take 170 reps each for Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson.’ My first reaction went, ‘I think Anthony Richardson’s career in Indy has a very good chance of ending.’ I would bet on Daniel Jones beating him out,” Middlekauff said.
“I’m not pro-Daniel Jones. I don’t think he’s good either, but I’ve seen this song and dance before. I would imagine, after last year, everything they experienced with Anthony Richardson and that moment when he quit on the team in the middle of a game, and clearly his teammates turned on him. I went, I think this is probably over. And then they gave Daniel Jones, who I thought was a $3 or $4 million player, $14 million!”
“I think Anthony Richardson’s career in Indy has a very good chance of ENDING.”@JohnMiddlekauff expresses concerns for AR after the @Colts signed Daniel Jones to a $14 million contract… pic.twitter.com/z1azimsRGl
— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) May 30, 2025
What’s Next for Richardson and Jones?
Richardson still has two years remaining on his rookie contract. Three if the Colts pick up his fifth-year option, but they likely wouldn’t if Jones wins the starting job. Richardson hasn’t proven he can stay on the field, and when he is, he’s been mediocre. He finished 37th (out of 39) in PFSN’s QB+ metric last season, while Flacco finished 23rd and Jones finished 32nd.
Jones had one “good” season with the New York Giants, where he threw for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 16 starts. He added 708 rushing yards and seven scores while leading the Giants to a 9-6-1 record and a Wild Card berth. He threw for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 10 games last season before being benched and ultimately released.
An interesting storyline heading into training camp will be how long the Colts continue to split reps between Richardson and Jones. They have similar play styles, but Jones, albeit only once, has proven that he can lead a team to the playoffs. Steichen’s job could be on the line if the Colts flop in 2025.
if Anthony Richardson get cut by the Indianapolis Colts the Steelers shuold take Anthony Richardson and have him and learn