Coming off a Sunday Night Football loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Indianapolis Colts fell to 4-5 and are well on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff picture.
The loss came on the heels of Joe Flacco's first start following a decision made by head coach Shane Steichen to bench second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. At this point, most know the backstory there.
Richardson's play had been inconsistent. He took himself out of a game for one play due to being tired. Steichen made the call to insert Flacco into the starting lineup.
The Colts didn't look much different in that initial start for Flacco, though, as the Vikings defense kept the offense out of the end zone the entire night. It sure made fans wonder if Steichen had made the right call, in the end.
Following the game, there was a special meet-up between a Colts quarterback and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, and it wasn't Flacco. Instead, video caught O'Connell seeking out Richardson and giving him some heartfelt encouragement.
"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. These guys do. Shane does too," O'Connell told the young quarterback.
.@Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell had some words of encouragement for @GVOaant ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TaXW9dFaMx
— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2024
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It was a genuine, endearing exchange between coach and player, to say the least. O'Connell proved why he is one of the NFL's top head coaches, and a true player's coach, at that.
Kevin O'Connell's encouragement shines a brighter light on Shane Steichen
Although Steichen and O'Connell haven't worked together on an NFL staff, they clearly have a peer relationship. O'Connell wouldn't have put words in Steichen's mouth, so for him to acknowledge Steichen's belief in Richardson is big.
Steichen had previously said this isn't the end for Richardson and that the team still had faith in him, long-term. While it was hard for some to believe that, at the time, maybe his words were, indeed, sincere.
The head coach simply believed that Flacco was the right man for the job, right now, and that Richardson would again get his chance in the future. Now, will Steichen be prompted to go back to Ricahrdson sooner rather than later? He just might, especially if Flacco doesn't show enough to warrant keeping the job.
Fans have taken issue with Steichen's coaching and play calling for a while now, and that is also a factor in Richardson's development. The organization not trading Richardson at this year's deadline, despite receiving interest, does prove their commitment to the quarterback. But, the Colts may not necessarily be committed to Steichen, in the end.
For both to stick around, something has got to change. And, while Steichen may have the best of intentions, that may not be good enough. Will he go back to Richardson sooner than originally thought?