Anthony Richardson's Rollercoaster Rookie Season Hits a Bump
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts placed considerable faith in Anthony Richardson by selecting him with the fourth overall pick. The young quarterback from the University of Florida came with a mix of immense talent and noticeable inexperience, having only started 13 college games. His lack of starting experience ties him with Mitchell Trubisky for the fewest starts by a first-round quarterback in the 21st century, a fact that amplifies the pressure on his shoulders.
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-4 and weighing 244 pounds, Richardson was expected to bring a new dynamic to the Colts' offense. His physical attributes are coupled with an eye-catching ability to drive the ball downfield, leading the league with 16.2 yards per completion. Yet, it's been a season of trials as much as triumph for the rookie.
By the halfway point of the 2024 NFL season, the Colts found themselves at a balanced but precarious 4-4 record. Much of the narrative surrounding the team has centered on Richardson and his on-field performances. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, there has been inconsistency too, highlighted by his 44.4% completion rate, alarmingly the second-lowest for starting quarterbacks this century.
The turning point appeared to come after a Week 8 loss against the Houston Texans, a defeat that relegated Richardson to the bench. The decision reflected the urgency to address the Colts' immediate struggles, yet it was not a dismissal of Richardson’s long-term potential. To stabilize the ship, the Colts turned to the experienced 39-year-old Joe Flacco.
Flacco's veteran touch was evident in Week 9, as the Colts faced the Minnesota Vikings on "Sunday Night Football." Despite his presence, the Colts succumbed to a 21-13 defeat, a game marked by the strategic acumen of Kevin O'Connell, the Vikings' head coach and a former NFL quarterback himself.
Richardson’s situation isn’t unprecedented, as reflected by the history of quarterbacks drafted in the first round. Among the 66 first-round quarterbacks from 2000 to 2022, 25 were benched during their rookie contracts, experiencing a baptism of fire similar to Richardson’s current predicament.
Still, setbacks often serve as inflection points. Kevin O'Connell's words to Anthony Richardson, overheard following the Colts’ loss, were ones of reassurance and future promise: "Hey, do me a favor and remember something: You're a bad dude. And you're going to play a long time in this league. Go to work every day. Good things will happen for you. I still believe in you. I know these guys do. Shane does, too. Man, this organization love you. Go to work."
O'Connell’s encouragement is a testament not only to the competitive fraternity within the league but also to the widely held belief in Richardson’s potential. Although still rough around the edges, the collective endorsement from both the Colts’ organization and adversarial peers suggests Richardson is seen as more than just another quarterback—he is a future cornerstone.
As the Colts navigate the remainder of the 2024 season, their ambitions remain tied to a versatile strategy: embracing the immediate stability Flacco offers while nurturing and preparing Richardson for the rigors and nuances of the NFL. In the grand game of football, the chapters are numerous, and for Anthony Richardson, the story is still very much in the opening stages.