The Indianapolis Colts officially named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback for the 2025 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL season on Tuesday, concluding a heated competition during the offseason and training camp with Anthony Richardson. While the decision places Richardson in the backup role, the young quarterback remains committed to his growth and readiness for the season ahead as part of the Colts‘ roster.
Anthony Richardson Accepts Backup Position with Determination to Improve
At 23 years old, Anthony Richardson Sr. is fully aware of the challenges he faces in securing a starting position in the NFL, recognizing that continuous development is essential. The quarterback openly acknowledges that this designation as a backup quarterback is not a setback but an opportunity for progress as he prepares to contribute to the Colts throughout the 2025 campaign.
“You just gotta respect it and just keep working,”
Richardson said on Tuesday.
“That doesn’t undermine any of the work I’ve been putting in, doesn’t say that I haven’t improved. So I’m proud of the improvement that I’ve made, Shane has also been proud of that, so just got to keep stacking on that and keep getting better.”
—Anthony Richardson Sr.
He added,
“…I just can’t let me not being a starter stop me from growing and being the person, the player that I’m supposed to be.”
—Anthony Richardson Sr.
Coaching Staff Emphasizes Growth and Patience With Richardson
Head coach Shane Steichen remains optimistic about Richardson’s future and highlights his potential for further growth. Steichen emphasized that at this stage in his career, Richardson’s new role allows for a different learning curve and readiness to step up if needed.
“There’s still room for AR to grow,”
Steichen said.
“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.”
—Shane Steichen
General manager Chris Ballard and assistant general manager Ed Dodds have reinforced patience throughout the offseason, reiterating that Richardson is seen as a long-term project rather than a make-or-break candidate for this season.
He’s young and he’s talented, Dodds explained.
“And we knew it was going to be a long-term project.”
—Ed Dodds
Focus on Technical Consistency and Readiness Underlined by Coaching Staff
Steichen outlined specific areas where Richardson still needs to improve, such as line-of-scrimmage operation, protection, completion percentage, and ball placement. Though Richardson has demonstrated progress, the coach stressed the importance of ongoing advancement to earn trust over the long run.
“He knows he still needs to develop and learn in those areas, and he knows that he’s one play away,”
Steichen said.
“He handled it great. We sat down in my office this morning and talked and I said hey, here’s the things you need to keep improving on, things I hit early about the consistency, and he agreed. He’s like yeah, I got room for growth there. And I said, you’re one play away, and he told me the same thing — he’s like, you’re right, I am one play away knowing that if something happened to Daniel, he’s gotta be ready to go.”
—Shane Steichen
Richardson’s Mindset: Preparedness and Continuous Development
With the knowledge that opportunities can arise unexpectedly, Richardson adopts the mentality that he must stay ready at all times to step onto the field. As the backup quarterback, he will approach each week’s preparation with the intensity and focus of a starter while also leading the scout team offense, giving him ongoing chances to refine his skills.
Steichen pointed out the benefits of this scout team role:
“When you are on the scout team, I think you can still work on your fundamentals and your technique and going through it and going after the defense on the scout team,”
he said.
“I think that’s all part of it.”
—Shane Steichen
For his part, Richardson expressed a positive outlook on learning through different experiences. “Growth is growth,” he said.
“You’re gonna learn from what you learn from…people learn differently, you get different ways to get out there and experience things, but you gotta be willing to grow. And I’m willing to learn, I’m willing to grow.”
—Anthony Richardson Sr.
Colts Organization Remains Committed to Richardson’s Development
Throughout the offseason and training camp, no member of the Colts‘ coaching staff, management, or player leadership has wavered in their support for Richardson. The franchise views him as a key piece of its future and is invested in his continuing progression.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. reinforced this sentiment, acknowledging Richardson’s improvements and potential.
“He competed hard and he did make improvements,”
Pittman said.
“He’s still so young, I mean, who knows what’s out there in front of him. As long as he keeps on getting better every single day, I just, I can’t see it not working out for him in the long run.”
—Michael Pittman Jr.
Looking Ahead: Richardson’s Role and the Colts’ Season Prospects
As the 2025 season begins, Anthony Richardson will embrace his role as the Colts backup quarterback, knowing his chance to lead may come at any moment. The coaching staff’s emphasis on patience and growth points to a long-term strategy in nurturing his talent rather than rushing his development. Meanwhile, Daniel Jones will take the helm as the starting quarterback, providing stability at the position.
Richardson’s readiness and ongoing learning will be crucial not only for his future but for the Colts’ depth and resilience throughout the demanding NFL season. Fans and the organization alike will watch closely as he continues to mature and build the skill set needed to eventually take the reins as a franchise leader.