It’s a critical year for Colts QB Anthony Richardson, but we already knew that…
According to PFF’s Dalton Wasserman, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been named the team’s “make-or-break” player for the 2025 season:
Indianapolis Colts: QB Anthony Richardson
Heading into just his third NFL season, Richardson is already at a crossroads in Indianapolis. Injuries and accuracy issues have plagued his first two seasons, as he’s played less than 800 snaps and has earned just a 58.7 PFF passing grade in that time.
This offseason has been just as tumultuous for him, as Daniel Jones was brought in to compete for the starting quarterback job. Richardson is also having his shoulder evaluated for a potential injury. Unless he can make a rapid ascent within the next few months, his time in Indianapolis could be coming to a close far sooner than he expected.
This should come as a surprise to literally no one because it’s big year for general manager Chris Ballard, it’s a big year for head coach Shane Steichen, and it’s a big year for Richardson, Indy’s 3rd-year quarterback who was the former 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft—and has had his early career be a roller coaster ride of sorts.
Richardson has shown some flashes, most notably during his first 4 starts as a rookie in 2023, and later, down the final stretch of this past season—including some late game-winning 4th quarter drives (albeit against some of the NFL’s weaker competition).
The biggest problem for Richardson beyond some of the naivety issues off-the-field that plagued him initially off-the-field last year and ongoing passing accuracy concerns is that he can’t seemingly stay healthy—having missed 19 starts over the past two seasons (although two were because of a midseason benching last year).
He’s currently resting his surgically repaired right throwing shoulder before Colts training camp starts in July—with both sides hoping he’ll avoid another season-ending surgery.
If the Colts don’t come away with an AFC playoff berth, then it could finally be the end of longtime general manager Chris Ballard’s tenure—especially with late team owner Jim Irsay’s three daughters now transitioning to their newfound ownership roles.
A new Colts general manager regime isn’t going to have the same attachment to Richardson as his former one did, so he could be moved on from as soon as next offseason—should he fail to improve next season.
Really though, if Richardson, in his third-year, can’t beat out former New York Giants castoff and franchise quarterback hopeful Daniel Jones for the QB1 job (even with Jones’ offseason headstart with Richardson’s sore throwing shoulder), it may say a lot about him right now.
The elite athleticism, talent, and upside remain with the still only 23-year-old Richardson, as well as the surprising pocket presence and rocket launcher arm, but this upcoming season will be a big one as far as him taking the necessary leaps and strides in his leadership and development both on and off the field for Indianapolis.