Colts GM Already Setting Up Richardson to Take the Fall for Daniel Jones. The Indianapolis Colts are gearing up for another season, but if recent moves are any indication, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. After a frustrating 2024 campaign, GM Chris Ballard seems to be laying the groundwork for yet another quarterback controversy—this time at the expense of their young franchise QB, Anthony Richardson.
Colts GM Already Setting Up Richardson to Take the Fall for Daniel Jones: The Colts’ 2024 Quarterback Mismanagement
The Colts entered 2024 with playoff aspirations, but those dreams quickly faded. Anthony Richardson, in his second year, was expected to take a significant step forward as the team’s starting quarterback. However, his struggles were met with a shocking lack of patience.
By Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Richardson was pulled from the game. By Week 5, the Colts handed the starting job to 39-year-old Joe Flacco. Benching a first-round QB in his eighth career start in favor of an aging veteran was a puzzling decision, to say the least. Even if Flacco provided more immediate stability, the long-term impact on Richardson’s development was ignored. The history of young quarterbacks benched early in their careers isn’t promising, and the Colts may have permanently stunted Richardson’s growth.
Despite eventually reclaiming the job, the damage was already done. Now, Ballard is setting the stage for history to repeat itself in 2025—this time, with Daniel Jones in the mix.
Enter Daniel Jones: A Familiar, Frustrating Pattern
Colts GM Already Setting Up Richardson to Take the Fall for Daniel Jones. The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal, a move that raised eyebrows across the league. After a disastrous tenure with the New York Giants, where he went 1-for-6 in terms of successful seasons, Jones finished 2024 bouncing between the Giants’ practice squad and the Minnesota Vikings—without ever seeing the field in Minnesota.
Yet, Ballard seems eager to frame this as an open competition. Speaking to the Colts’ official website, he said:
“Between Daniel and Anthony, you’re going to see a really good competition. It’s going to be a spirited competition, but I also think it’s going to be one where they help each other to grow, too.”
This narrative is baffling. Jones’ track record in the NFL is one of inconsistency, injuries, and turnover woes. While the Giants’ roster around him was less than stellar, his accuracy, decision-making, and durability were all independent issues. The idea that Jones should be given an equal shot at the starting job as Richardson—who still possesses a much higher ceiling—is outright concerning.
Colts Are Mismanaging Their Most Valuable Asset
Richardson wasn’t perfect last season—he threw 12 interceptions in 11 games—but that’s expected for a developing young QB. The key to success in the NFL is patience, something the Colts seem unwilling to show. Few quarterbacks in the league possess Richardson’s combination of mobility, arm strength, and raw athleticism. Instead of allowing him to grow into his immense potential, Indianapolis is once again flirting with the idea of plugging in a stopgap veteran.
Ballard’s justification for signing Jones was equally alarming:
“And so we thought Daniel’s skill set and Anthony’s skill set—there’s a lot of similarities there. So offensively, I think that’s going to help our offensive staff, so OK, we don’t have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other.”
That’s a diplomatic way of saying, “We’re comfortable handing the reins over to Jones if necessary.” The problem? Jones and Richardson are not the same quarterback. While Jones is mobile, his passing ability and playmaking instincts don’t hold a candle to Richardson’s upside. The Colts are trying to keep their offensive scheme intact, but at what cost?
Colts GM Already Setting Up Richardson to Take the Fall for Daniel Jones: A Never-Ending Cycle of Mediocrity
Colts GM Already Setting Up Richardson to Take the Fall for Daniel Jones. By repeatedly turning to veteran quarterbacks instead of fully committing to Richardson, the Colts are dooming themselves to mediocrity. It’s a rinse-and-repeat formula that has kept them stuck in neutral since Andrew Luck’s retirement. The last thing this franchise needs is another year of instability at the most important position in football.
If Indianapolis truly believes in Richardson, they need to show it. That means prioritizing his development, allowing him to make mistakes, and giving him the confidence to grow into the star he has the potential to be.
Instead, Ballard and the Colts seem poised to once again pull the plug too soon. If Richardson struggles early in 2025, how long will it take before Jones is under center? And when that happens, what’s next? Another wasted season, another lost opportunity to build something sustainable.
Colts fans should brace themselves—because unless something changes, this looks like another frustrating year in Indianapolis.
