'QB whisperer' Bruce Arians weighed in on Anthony Richardson (and held nothing back)

Bruce Arians, known as the "quarterback whisperer," had his first head coaching position with the Indianapolis Colts when he filled in for Chuck Pagano for 12 weeks while Pagano battled leukemia. Under Arians, the Colts made it to the playoffs, and was named NFL Coach of the Year. And after leaving Indianapolis, his career only took off even more.

He's been called the NFL's ultimate quarterback whisperer, due largely to his role in developing multiple Pro Bowl quarterbacks - including, most notably for Colts fans, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. Now, in an interview with Jeffrey Gorman, Arians looked back on his time with the Colts, as well as how he feels about Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.

Anthony Richardson

Like many, Arians acknowledged that Richardson is an incredible athlete. But as a quarterback, he believes Richardson needs a lot of work.

Anthony, I think needed two more years of college... you know, as a passer, not as an athlete. He's a great athlete," he said. "But as a passer, I didn't see him coming out. Being able to beat anybody in two minutes, third down, and that's where you went in the NFL. If you can't win third down to a minute, you're just an average guy. And I don't care how good you run. You don't run the ball in two minutes as a quarterback, you throw it. And you command the game. I think his growth this year is going to be huge. If he can't make it. The growth that I think he can make and put the - I think he's going to put the work in. He's got a great reputation as a hard worker. So it's Daniel pushing. Daniel's going to really push."

Richardson struggled in the 2024 season, but he's also made it clear that he's going to do everything he can to improve, and keep his position as QB1. That includes working this offseason with Josh Allen, as well as the biometric specialist Allen credits with the drastic improvement in his play.

Daniel Jones

Signing Daniel Jones has been more of a polarizing choice for the Colts, particularly because Jones has not been a great quarterback in his own right, either. Many saw it as a sign that Indianapolis is in big trouble, but Arians was more optimistic.

Arians reflected on a a 2019 Week 3 loss to the New York Giants, in which was Jones' first career start. During that game, he went 23 of 36 for 336 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for two touchdowns.

"I thought the kid had it. He was smart, accurate," Arians said. "I think he got the hell beat out of him in New York with that offensive line, and not having the premier skill players around him. But I think he's a great talent."

Jones was cut by the Giants halfway through the 2024 season. Like Richardson, he struggled with consistency, throwing for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Andrew Luck

Arians spoke about having mixed feelings when he initially was given the opportunity to coach Andrew Luck as a rookie. "It was such a bittersweet thing because of Peyton's situation, you know. And I had just been talking to Peyton about coming back, and watching him throw and do some things. And I was unable to hook up with him," he said. "But then, the way it went down, it was very, very bittersweet, but then very, very exciting on the other side getting Andrew, and being able to see the similarities between him and the rest of the great quarterbacks that we've had, and what he did as a rookie is still just amazing to me."

Before the 2012 NFL draft, Arians recalled working out with Luck, and being shocked by his incredible memory, even when Arians tried to trick him.

"We went out and worked out and came back in. And I said, 'Put that play back up on the board.' And he didn't take any notes, which was shocking to me," Arians recalled. "And he's putting it up there. And I said, 'That's not what I said.' He said, 'That's exactly what you said, and the coverage is this.' I said, 'Okay, you got me, you got me!' And the dude had a photographic memory. He didn't have to take notes. He was just amazing. And, you know, every time in a meeting, I said, you got it? I got it. You sure you got it? I got it. He had it every time."

Peyton Manning

During Manning's first three seasons with the Colts, Arians was the team's quarterbacks coach, and during that time, he stressed the importance of communication.

"You've got to build trust. Don't tell me what I want to hear. Tell me what you're really seeing," Arians said. "Peyton was great at it. I've never been around a guy that took more notes. There's notebook on top of notebook. Tom Brady was very similar. No one was going to outwork him." Furthermore, he said Manning had high expectations for his coaches. "If I had an hour meeting schedule, I better have two hours worth of material," he said. "The last thing I ever want to do is run out of material with him in the room and just continue going over things. And thank God we finally got those computers that popped up to film. I didn't have to plug him in and eject him."

"If I had an hour meeting schedule, I better have two hours worth of material."

Bruce Arians

Manning was also someone who could never stand still, and Arians explained how he could continue to believe in Peyton, even during his difficult rookie season.

"I think the worst night was up in New England. I think he had, like, four [interceptions]," Arians recalled. "He was ready to come out I said, 'No, no, no, we're going two-minute, man. We're going to learn something the rest of this game.' And he went down, scored a couple touchdowns in two-minute offense, which he was very comfortable in, you know. But we try to learn something each and every week, learn from those mistakes. And they didn't happen. When you look back, in the last eight games, and the second time through the division, there were very, very few interceptions."

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