The Indianapolis Colts added both Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson this offseason. How do they compare to the other new Coach-QB duos in the NFL?
Out of all of the additions that the Indianapolis Colts made this offseason, the two biggest were hiring Shane Steichen as the team’s head coach and drafting Anthony Richardson to be the team’s quarterback. With Steichen being an offensive head coach and quarterback developer, he and Richardson will work hand in hand during their time with the Colts.
Steichen and Richardson weren’t the only coach-quarterback duo created this offseason. Throughout the NFL, there are 11 total new head coach and quarterback duos. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently ranked all 11. Benjamin ranked the duo of Steichen and Richardson at No. 7 on the list.
Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson ranked seventh-best new Coach-QB duo
Benjamin highlighted Richardson’s mobility and Steichen’s history of coaching Jalen Hurts, to emphasize why this is a promising duo. The only duo with a rookie QB listed ahead of Indy’s duo was Bryce Young and former Colts coach Frank Reich; the rest were all veterans. So, Richardson and Steichen are in a pretty good spot.
So far, it seems like the two are off to the right start. Richardson has talked about how excited he is to learn from Coach Steichen and how he’s thrilled to be used how the Philadelphia Eagles used Jalen Hurts. Steichen, on the other hand, has continually praised the rookie quarterback, pointing out the big plays that he’s made in OTAs.
The biggest remaining question, that won’t be answered for a while, is when exactly will Richardson be QB1 for the Colts. While everyone wants him on the field sooner than later, it hasn’t been determined if he’ll be the Week 1 starter or if that job will go to Gardner Minshew, while the team gradually works Richardson in. Either way, it will ultimately be Steichen and Richardson as the duo that leads the Colts in this next era.