On Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts announced their captains, and the usual, expected names were present: DeForest Buckner, Zaire Franklin, Ryan Kelly, Shaq Leonard, Kenny Moore II, and Quenton Nelson. However, there was also a seventh name: Anthony Richardson. Despite being a rookie, Richardson has already been voted a captain ahead of his first NFL season.
Starting quarterbacks are usually captains, but with the Colts, the players vote for captains. That means Richardson has been doing things the right way and quickly earned the respect of his teammates. When he walks on the field for his first official game, he’ll have the C patch on his jersey.
Speaking with the media on Thursday after making the announcement, head coach Shane Steichen was asked about Richardson being voted as a captain as a rookie. Steichen explained that it’s a testament to how he works, but also his personality, saying, “his contagious personality. He’s just got something special about him that says ‘I want to be around this guy.’”
Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson voted Colts captain
This further confirms all the great things that have come out about Richardson since he’s been drafted to Indianapolis. There’s been stories about his high character, how hard he works, how much he wants to be great, and now, how good of a teammate he is. Additionally, Richardson is a talented player and has a chance to be really special on the field.
Of course, expectations are going to be high, but it seems that everyone is also trying to keep a sense of patience, because Richardson is still a young, inexperienced quarterback entering his first season. While there will certainly be growing pains, Richardson seems equipped to handle the challenge. With his combination of skill and character, there’s no ceiling for him in the NFL if he can put it all together.