Shane Steichen has officially made the decision that everyone has been waiting on: he named rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. After a few weeks of training camp, and one preseason game, that Richardson started, the first-year head coach believes he’s seen enough from the rookie.
Steichen made the announcement on Tuesday, after Indy’s practice. When he approached the microphone, he shared the news, shouting out both Richardson and veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew. Steichen expressed that the team is lucky to have Minshew, especially Richardson, highlighting how much Minshew has helped Richardson.
#Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially named Anthony Richardson the starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/pno7bu8aPh
— Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) August 15, 2023
Anthony Richardson is officially the Colts starting quarterback
From the moment Indianapolis used the fourth-overall pick on Richardson in the 2023 Draft, everyone knew he would start eventually. Immediately after picking him, team owner Jim Irsay made it clear that Richardson was going to play as a rookie. However, Irsay wanted Steichen to decide when the best moment for Richardson to start was. Everyone wondered if it’d be Week 1 or if Minshew would start a few games before handing things over to Richardson.
Now we know, when the Indianapolis Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, Anthony Richardson will be under center, officially starting a new era of Colts football. It’s an era that should be really exciting because of the dynamic quarterback.
Throughout training camp and the preseason game against the Bills, fans have gotten to see the elite traits that Richardson has. He can run, he has an amazing deep ball, and he can zip the ball all over the field. While that’s all great, he is still a young quarterback that’s adjusting to the NFL, so there will certainly be growing pains. Regardless, the Colts are confident enough in Richardson’s growth already, and that’s why he’s officially QB1.