INDIANAPOLIS – We have The Decision, which begs two questions.
What will the Indianapolis Colts’ immediate future be with Daniel Jones at quarterback? He’s been given an opportunity to restart a career that fizzled badly with the New York Giants.
And.
What’s Anthony Richardson’s future with the team that selected him No. 4 overall in 2023? In the past 10 months, the erstwhile franchise quarterback has been benched in favor of Joe Flacco and Jones.
Despite the Colts’ heavy investment in time, coaching and money (a guaranteed $33.99 million on a four-year rookie deal) with Richardson, coach Shane Steichen believes Jones gives his team the best chance to win this season.
“At the end of the day, as the coach, I’ve got to do what I feel is best for the Colts this season,’’ Steichen said Tuesday.
When the Colts open the season Sept. 7 against Miami at Lucas Oil Stadium, Jones will be their sixth different opening-day starting quarterback since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement prior to the 2019 season.
Steichen insisted Jones won’t be looking over his shoulder at Richardson every week.
“Look, he’s our starting quarterback for the season,’’ he said. “I don’t want to have a quick leash on that.
“I feel confident in his abilities.’’
All that’s on the line for Steichen, general manager Chris Ballard and several front-line players — including Richardson — is whether they’ll be part of whichever direction the franchise takes at the end of the season. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon hasn’t mentioned ’25 as a playoffs-or-bust journey, but has stressed that four straight non-playoff seasons — the worst stretch for the franchise in more than three decades — isn’t up to the expected standards.
Now, it’s up to Jones to lead the Colts out of utter mediocrity — 9-8, 8-9 the past two seasons, 62-69-1 on Ballard’s eight-year watch — and challenge the Houston Texans for supremacy in the AFC South. And keep in mind, he’s working with a 1-year, $14 million contract.
Steichen made it clear his focus is on 2025, not what lies beyond.
“This league is a year-to-year league,’’ he said. “What do I feel is best for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025? I’ve got to make these decisions. That’s what I get paid to do. And I got to go with what I feel is right.”
The open competition that began when Ballard signed Jones to push Richardson for the starting job came down to which had a better grasp of the entire quarterback/offense operation.
Steichen admitted that Richardson has made progress in those areas, although his inability to pick up a free blitzer in the preseason opener at Baltimore that resulted in a sack and dislocated right pinky was a red flag.
Pressed on what tilted the decision in Jones’ favor, Steichen kept mentioning the operation at the line of scrimmage, making the proper checks and getting everyone into the right protections, ball placement and completion percentage.
“Daniel did a great job doing that,’’ Steichen said, “and I think AR has made strides in that area. But I do feel he still needs to continue to develop in those areas.’’
Steichen met with Ballard and Irsay-Gordon Monday and informed them of his decision. He met with Jones and Richardson Tuesday morning, then announced his decision to the team.
Clearly, the reaction depended on the quarterback.
“Obviously, I was excited,’’ said Jones. “Excited for the opportunity.
“As a competitor, you want to be on the field, and that’s why you work. So, I’m excited and looking forward to getting out there.’’
After being discarded by the New York Giants on Nov. 23 and not re-signed by the Minnesota Vikings at the end of 2024, Jones sought the most favorable team to restart his career.
Indy proved to be that spot, especially with Richardson’s tenuous situation.
“That was obviously a big piece of why I came here,’’ Jones said. “To play, to be on the field and to be with this group. I think it’s a strong group of players and a strong group of coaches with the system.
“I think there’s a lot of things here to be excited about. So yeah, I’m certainly happy I made the decision I did.’’
The Colts’ investment in Jones is for one year, but who knows? If he leads them to the playoffs as he did with the Giants in 2022, perhaps the relationship grows.
“Let’s see how the season goes,’’ Steichen said. “If he plays really well for us, then there’s a conversation after the season.’’
While the Colts made it clear they prefer Jones’ consistency and command of the huddle to Richardson’s incredible highs and frustrating lows, Jones’ six-year history is flawed.
He’s completed 64.1% of his passes, including a Giants’ record 67.2% in 2022. Jones also posted the third and fourth-best accuracy seasons in team history (64.3% in 2021 and 63.3% in ’24).
But he’s averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt and 10.1 yards per completion. Since passing for 24 touchdowns as a rookie, Jones hasn’t had more than 15 in a season.
And while he led the Giants to a 9-7-1 record and a wild-card berth in 2022, he’s 15-38 in his other five seasons and 3-13 in the last two.
Jones insisted he’s a different player than the one who failed to deliver for the Giants.
“I think you’re growing in your understanding of scheme, of defense, of what teams are trying to do,’’ he said. “Decision-making, understanding when you can get through reads and where the ball needs to go.’’
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been impressed by Jones’ commitment.
“The time that he puts in,’’ he said. “He’s always watching film. He’s here early. He has such an established routine.
“And being able to learn from him because there’s been a couple of times during camp when he’s watching film and I walk in there and he’s teaching me stuff about, ‘Hey, the defense is going to do this, expect this. If they do this, do that.’’’
What of Richardson?
The quarterback carousel was supposed to stop when the Colts used the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 on Richardson. No more Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan/Sam Ehlinger/Nick Foles with a healthy dose of Gardner Minshew II.
Richardson was viewed as the possible long-term answer the franchise enjoyed with Peyton Manning and Luck.
Perhaps that’s still possible, but there’s no denying Tuesday’s announcement represented a major setback for Richardson.
He’s now been benched twice. First for Flacco last November when Steichen and Ballard were dissatisfied with his game preparation and attention to details. And now for Jones.
“You’ve just gotta respect the decision,’’ Richardson said. “They feel like he’s the better fit for the team, the better fit for the outcome of us winning.
“He made a decision. That’s a decision we’ve gotta live with. No hard feelings. It was never personal.’’
Even if Richardson respects the decision, did he agree with it?
“I mean, I’ve gotta agree with it,’’ he said. “At the end of the day, whatever is best for the team, that’s best for the team. If it was me, I’m pretty sure (Jones) would be having to answer the same question.
“So, at the end of the day, I respect it. Whatever is best for the team, whatever is going to get us that Super Bowl ring, I’m all for it.’’
After 2024 ended with Richardson missing seven games with injuries and the benching and a franchise record-low and NFL-worst 47.7% accuracy, the team needed to see him use the offseason to work on his mechanics and fundamentals.
Injuries, most notable the sprained right shoulder that sidelined him for the final 11 games of his rookie season, impeded his growth.
There were signs of that improvement during his training camp competition with Jones, but obviously not enough to retain his starting job.
Even so, Steichen remained supportive.
“I think there’s still room for AR to grow,’’ he said. “I mean, he’s 23 years old. He’s still learning, still growing and for the first time in his career, this is an opportunity for him to sit at the start of the season and learn in a different light and attack it the right way.’’
Steichen reminded Richardson he’s one Jones injury away from returning to the starting lineup.
“If something happened to Daniel,’’ he said, “he’s got to be ready.’’
Does Richardson have a future with the Colts?
“That’s hard to say,’’ Steichen said. “Obviously, Daniel is our starter right now, and if something happened to Daniel at some point, AR gets another opportunity.’’
Richardson was pressed on whether the Colts still have faith in him.
In two seasons, he’s missed 17 of 34 games because of injury and posted an 8-7 record as a starter. He’s completed just 50.6% of his passes with 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions but excelled as a runner with a club-record for a quarterback with 499 yards last season despite missing six games.
“I believe in them. They believe in me,’’ Richardson said. “Like I said, I’ve just gotta be ready for whenever the opportunity showcases itself. I can’t put a timeline on it. They can’t either.
“They tell me they believe in me. My teammates believe in me. So, I’ve got no choice but to listen to them and believe that. They’re telling me one thing and I’ve got to accept that and I’ve got to live with it.’’
Does he still want to be a Colt?
“Man, I thank God for the opportunity,’’ Richardson said. “I’ve got to stay ready and be ready. Lord’s willing, if it’s still here, I’m going to take advantage of it.
“I’m not looking to get into going anywhere else, anything like that. I’m here in the moment right now. I’m a Colt and I enjoy being a Colt. So, I’m excited to be here. I’m excited for Daniel. He’s going to do a great job leading the team.
“I talked to him earlier: ‘Lead the team. Lead the way.’ We’re following him and wherever he takes us, that’s where we’re going to go.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.