Colts will hold ‘real’ QB competition after roller-coaster Anthony Richardson season

Anthony Richardson will have some compeтιтion for the Colts’ starting quarterback job.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday the franchise will bring in another quarterback this offseason to challenge the third-year signal-caller for the QB1 gig next season.

“It’s got to be the right guy to create real compeтιтion. But we want to create real compeтιтion,” Ballard said during a press conference at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. “I think it’s good for the team. I think it’s good for Anthony.

“We drafted Anthony high knowing it was going to take some time. And we knew there’s going to be some hiccups along the way. And I know we all want a finished product right now. I do, you do, fans do, we all do. But I think as he continues to progress in his young career, us adding compeтιтion, I think, will help everybody’s game.”

Richardson, 22, has had an up-and-down start to his NFL career, leaving his status as the Colts’ quarterback of the future in doubt.

In 11 games last season, Richardson threw for 1,814 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Colts, who finished 8-9 overall, went 6-5 with Richardson as their starter.

He was benched and replaced by veteran Joe Flacco for two games midseason after asking out of a game because he was “tired.”

The Colts drafted Richardson No. 4 overall out of Florida in the 2023 NFL Draft and subsequently gave him the quarterback job in Week 1.

During his rookie season, Richardson played in just four games before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 5.

Ballard said Tuesday he’s confident Richardson will be better after going through this offseason with a full bill of health.

“Last offseason, Anthony spent a lot of time rehabbing. So now, he can focus on just training and developing and getting better fundamentally — which will be fun to watch,” Baller said “… I think we’re going to see a good version [of Richardson]. There’s things that he’ll continue to need to work on when he’s with us.

“But I have a lot of faith in the guys he’s training with.”