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The 2025 NFL campaign carries immense significance for the Indianapolis Colts. With a decade-long AFC South title drought and four consecutive years outside the postseason, the urgency throughout the organization is palpable. The passing of owner Jim Irsay and the subsequent transition to shared family ownership adds yet another layer of gravitas to this season’s stakes. Amid all the noise, no one stands under a hotter spotlight than quarterback Anthony Richardson, a player whose potential, resilience, and flaws now converge at a defining career crossroads.
Drafted fourth overall in 2023, Richardson arrived in Indianapolis brimming with athletic promise and sky-high expectations. His career, however, has mirrored the fortunes of the team: flashes of rare talent mixed with setbacks, inconsistency, and physical adversity. During the 2024 season, Richardson started 11 games, tallying a modest 6-5 record. His production, 1,814 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, painted the picture of a player with a steep learning curve still ahead of him. Nine fumbles and recurring injuries further fueled frustration among fans and franchise leaders alike.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard was blunt after benching Richardson late last year: “He was drowning. I didn’t feel the same poise… Mentally, it was going really fast for him.” The message was clear: the tolerance for growing pains had worn extremely thin.
This offseason was anything but quiet for the Colts. Ownership changes made headlines, but the front office drew attention for an aggressive approach to the roster. Ballard addressed defensive needs but also, critically, brought in veteran Daniel Jones on a one-year deal to compete for the starting quarterback job. The move wasn’t just about depth—it was a pointed message to Richardson: improvement is no longer optional.
Indy will reportedly have a QB competition once camp opens. Here’s how Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson compared as passers in 2024: pic.twitter.com/ulX0CB8uaq
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) June 20, 2025
Jones brings his own baggage after losing his starting job with the New York Giants, but his arrival resets the expectations for Richardson. The Colts have already stated that the two will share reps in training camp, and that the starting job is an open competition.
No member of the Colts faces more scrutiny than Richardson. For starters, the team’s future is inextricably linked to his ability to develop into a reliable franchise quarterback. His athletic gifts are undeniable, few quarterbacks rival his arm strength and open-field agility, but decision-making, accuracy, and health remain unresolved issues. After only 15 games in two seasons due to injuries, doubts swirl over whether he can ever be counted on for a full 17-game slate.
The addition of Jones only intensifies those questions. If Richardson cannot decisively win, and keep, the starting job over a journeyman veteran, the “bust” label becomes impossible to avoid in the public discourse. As one analyst noted, “Unless Richardson shows marked improvement as a passer in camp, Jones is going to be the Colts...
