Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson will not enter 2025 as the unquestioned starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard told Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star reported that the team "will have competition at the QB position next year" in order to "push Anthony Richardson" as well as "back him up."

Richardson played in 11 games in 2024 for the Colts and was limited to just four in 2023. He was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Richardson went 6-5 in 2024 but had some turnover struggles. He threw for 1,814 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions while rushing for 499 yards and six touchdowns and nine fumbles. Despite playing more games than backup Joe Flacco, he only threw for 53 more yards and had less touchdowns and more interceptions than the 39-year-old.

Despite the struggles, Richardson's athletic ability shows that he has a high ceiling and could rise to the top of the league if developed properly. Flacco said that he "intends" to return to the NFL in 2025 and he could be a candidate to back up Richardson once again.

However, the team could opt for a different person to compete with Richardson and potentially usurp him as the starter for at least the start of 2025.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly looking into multiple notable names as they look to fill their vacant defensive coordinator role.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday the AFC South team is expected to interview former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and longtime veteran NFL coach Steve Wilks next week.

Albert Breer of The MMQB later reported Anarumo will interview with the Colts on Tuesday.

The position is open because Indianapolis fired Gus Bradley after the 2024 season ended.

Bradley, the former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was the D.C. for three seasons. However, the defense finished an ugly 29th in yards and 24th in points allowed this season, which is a major reason the Colts missed the playoffs.

Anarumo's Bengals defense was also the primary reason his team didn't make the playoffs in 2024.

Cincinnati finished 25th in the league in yards and points allowed this season, which undercut an incredible campaign from Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase and left the club on the outside of the AFC postseason picture.

It also led to his firing.

Yet Anarumo had the DC role for the AFC North team for six years and helped lead it to the Super Bowl and AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. He drew praise for his ability to contain Patrick Mahomes during that stretch and was highly regarded in league circles.

Perhaps a change of scenery to Indianapolis will allow him to rediscover that form after a disappointing effort in 2024.

As for Wilks, his resume includes stops as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, interim coach of the Carolina Panthers, defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, defensive backs coach of the Chicago Bears and defensive backs coach of the San Diego Chargers.

He was most recently the D.C. in San Francisco during the 2023 season when the team reached the Super Bowl and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. That defense finished third in the league in points and eighth in yards allowed.

Indianapolis would surely love a defensive performance like that as it looks to compete in the AFC South and may look to hire accordingly.

Gus Bradley's tenure as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator is over after three seasons.

Indianapolis announced Monday it parted ways with the 58-year-old after it missed the postseason for the third straight year with him in the position.

"I'm appreciative of Gus and the commitment he made to the Colts," head coach Shane Steichen said. "He is a man of great character, and I have the utmost respect for him. I felt like we needed to move in a different direction. I wish Gus and his family all the best moving forward."

The Colts hired Bradley ahead of the 2022 campaign after former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Chicago fired Eberflus after 12 games this season, ending a disappointing tenure that saw him go 14-32.

Bradley was a notable hire at the time considering he had head coaching experience.

He was the HC of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 until he was fired after 14 games in 2016. While Jacksonville doesn't exactly have a rich history of consistent success, Bradley's tenure was among the most disappointing stretches in franchise history.

Jacksonville went 14-48 with him at the helm and never finished with more than five wins in a single season. The stretch stood out even more when the Jaguars went to the AFC Championship Game under Doug Marrone during the 2017 campaign in their first season after firing Bradley.

Despite the struggles at head coach, Bradley's resume as a defensive coordinator is better.

He was the Seattle Seahawks' DC from 2009-12 and helped lead the team to the playoffs in two of his four seasons. He also helped set the foundation of the Legion of Boom defense that led Seattle to back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

Seattle finished in the top 10 in points and yards allowed in each of Bradley's final two seasons, including when it led the league in points allowed in 2012.

He was also the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-20 and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 before joining the Colts. The Chargers finished in the top 10 in the league in points allowed twice when he held the position.

Bradley did not find that much success with the Colts as they missed the playoffs in each of his three seasons. Their 2024 defense was particularly problematic, as it finished 29th in yards and 24th in points allowed on the way to a 8-9 record.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay expressed his support for head coach Shane Steichen as well as general manager Chris Ballard in a statement posted to X on Sunday.

"I've been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025," Irsay said.

The Colts missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and their second straight year under Steichen in 2024, finishing with a record of 8-9.

Indianapolis was still in the mix in the AFC playoff hunt entering Week 17, but a 45-33 loss to the New York Giants officially put an end to its postseason hopes. The Giants entered the contest with a 2-13 record.

Expectations were high for the Colts entering the year, as they were able to finish their 2023 campaign at 9-8 despite quarterback Anthony Richardson undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery after appearing in just four games as a rookie.

Steichen's offense took a slight step back this season, averaging 334.8 yards and 22.2 points per game after finishing with 336.8 yards and 23.3 points per game in 2023.

Richardson was benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco during the season after the second-year passer admitted that he took himself out of a game due to fatigue. The 22-year-old was eventually inserted back into the first-string offense, though.

Ballard has served as Indianapolis' general manager since 2017, with the team owning a 61-69-1 record throughout his tenure.

Zak Keefer and James Boyd of The Athletic previously spoke to an anonymous Colts player who discussed the team's internal issues.

"There's no vision," the player said. "From the top down—from the front office, to the coaches, to the players—no one is ever on the same page, and every year at the end, we're sitting here losing."

As Indianapolis attempts to bounce back in 2025, Irsay doesn't seem to be considering a change at head coach or general manager.

Joe Flacco isn't hanging it up just yet.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio "a source with knowledge of Flacco's thinking" said the Indianapolis Colts quarterback "fully intends to play" next season.

Flacco, 39, will wrap up his 17th NFL season on Sunday when he starts against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though he's not the same quarterback that led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl in 2012, he's put together a strong second act to his career.

Last season, he played five games with the Cleveland Browns and threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns. He won four of his five games as the starter and ultimately revived the Browns and led them to the playoffs.

Flacco hasn't fared quite as well with his new team this season, throwing for 1,497 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions through seven games. The Colts benched young quarterback Anthony Richardson for Flacco but turned back to Richardson after just two games when Flacco couldn't get things going.

Flacco put together one of his best games of the season last week though, throwing for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the New York Giants.

Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Colts before the 2024 season and will return to free agency this offseason. Indianapolis might welcome Flacco back next season to back up Richardson, but if the Colts don't sign him, many teams would likely be willing to bring in the veteran.

According to Florio, Flacco is willing to come off the bench as he did in Indianapolis, which would only help his chances of getting picked up in free agency.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly unlikely to move on from head coach Shane Steichen this offseason.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast (starts at 17:15 mark), The Athletic's Dianna Russini noted the "sense" from talking to people around the NFL is that Steichen will remain with the Colts in 2025.

"I've had some conversations around the league, in terms of Shane Steichen. I don't get the sense that they're going to make a move at this moment. But that could be something that changes," Russini said.

In the aftermath of Sunday's 45-33 loss to the New York Giants that officially ended the Colts' playoff hopes, there were a lot of questions about the current and future direction of the franchise.

Most of the questions were about general manager Chris Ballard and the job he has done over the past eight seasons.

Per The MMQB's Albert Breer, there have been "murmurs" around the league that the Colts could make a change at general manager.

Ballard's track record with Indianapolis is a mixed bag. The team has just one playoff win in two appearances and four winning seasons since he was hired in January 2017. They haven't won an AFC South title, while the other three teams have won the division at least two times during the past eight seasons.

Another big concern for the Colts has been the development of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. He has shown flashes of the upside that made him the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but it hasn't happened enough to believe in him as the long-term solution.

There was also the unusual situation in the middle of this season when Richardson was benched after admitting he took himself out of a game for being tired. Steichen seemed to indicate Joe Flacco would be the starter for the remainder of the season, then he went back to Richardson in Week 11.

It's not uncommon for a team to fire a general manager and retain the head coach, but it can make for an awkward dynamic because a new GM would typically like the ability to hire someone they prefer rather than inherit someone from the previous regime.

Steichen, who has a 16-17 record, will wrap up his second season as Colts head coach on Sunday. He was hired after spending two years as offensive coordinator from the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2022, helping the team reach the Super Bowl in his final season.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson failed to meet expectations in his second year in the NFL, but it sounds like the team isn't ready to give up on him just yet.

The Athletic's Zak Keefer and James Boyd reported, "For now, according to a team source, the Colts plan to keep Richardson under center in 2025 in hopes he continues to develop."

Retaining Richardson as the starter for the 2025 campaign is a bit of a surprise, as the Colts already learned some tough lessons about just how much time he needs to develop.

"The preparation stuff isn't there yet. He just doesn't know," one NFL talent evaluator told Keefer and Boyd.

"A good kid but naïve to what it takes to be a pro QB," another talent evaluator said.

The 2023 No. 4 pick faced questions coming out of Florida, as he started just 13 games at the college level. Despite his lack of experience, Indianapolis made Richardson a captain in his rookie season, which surprised a scout who studied him before he was drafted.

"They put a C on his chest, which is not him," the scout said

Richardson has appeared in 11 games this season and completed a dismal 47.7 percent for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also adding 86 carries for 499 yards and six more scores. Due to a back injury, he's considered questionable for the Colts' season finale on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Richardson's injury history is just one of the many factors that have created questions about his future in Indianapolis. The 22-year-old was benched for two games this season and raised eyebrows when he tapped out of a division game against the Houston Texans and admitted afterward that he was "tired." His inaccuracy this season has also been a cause for concern.

Still, the Colts believe they can develop Richardson into an effective starting quarterback in the NFL, so he will have another chance to prove them right.

The Indianapolis Colts were the subject of a withering examination from The Athletic as their playoff drought extended to four seasons.

Zak Keefer and James Boyd did a deep dive into what has led the Colts to become such a mess on the field, and they spoke to one player who summed up the overarching issue.

"There's no vision," the player said. "From the top down—from the front office, to the coaches, to the players—no one is ever on the same page, and every year at the end, we're sitting here losing. If you look at the best teams in the league, they all have a vision, and they commit to it. The Chiefs keep winning because they have a vision. The Lions turned things around because they have a vision.

"There's no vision here."

Nowhere is Indianapolis' lack of direction more apparent than at the quarterback position. After Andrew Luck's sudden retirement ahead of the 2019 season, a different player has led the team in passing yards each year. That kind of QB turnover is unsustainable if an organization wants to consistently contend.

The Colts got steadily diminishing returns when they leaned on short-term stopgaps in Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan. Using the No. 4 pick on Anthony Richardson in the 2023 NFL draft represented a clear plan for the future, yet that, too, has been a disaster so far.

Richardson's performance has been underwhelming. He has thrown for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while completing just 50.6 percent of his passes so far. In addition, the 22-year-old has logged just 15 starts due to a combination of injuries and briefly getting benched earlier this year.

Richardson only started one full season at Florida before making the jump to the NFL, so he was widely considered to be a developmental prospect. Keefer and Boyd wrote the Colts discovered he "was as raw as they come," implying the learning curve was even steeper than expected.

The Athletic report makes the case Indy pushed Richardson into the starting job and named him a captain before he was ready to handle either role, and his development has suffered as a result.

While Richardson made a strong impression internally after he got benched, his long-term outlook isn't much more clear now than it was before he earned QB1 duties back.

If Indianapolis ultimately has to start over at quarterback in a few years, a lot of fans are likely to be skeptical about the team's ability to avoid making the same mistakes it did with Richardson.

A lack of vision like the one the Colts player lamented to Keefer and Boyd often starts at the top, and team owner Jim Irsay isn't going anywhere.

The back trouble that kept Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson out in Week 17 was causing serious issues with his mobility.

Richardson told reporters he has dealt with back issues on and off for a long time, "but it's never been this severe." He said he couldn't stand up and was reduced to "crawling around" his house because even walking was too painful.

The second-year signal-caller had to watch from the sideline as the Colts lost 45-33 to the New York Giants last Sunday. Joe Flacco went 26-of-38 for 330 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Richardson said Wednesday an MRI revealed a disc issue in his back, which at least pinpoints why his recent flare-up was so bad. He's hopeful of suiting up for the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

At 7-9, the Colts have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Ending the year with a victory would at least be something to build on in 2025.

Richardson in particular might be keen to leave a strong lasting image amid another inconsistent campaign under center. In 11 appearances, he has thrown for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing just 47.7 percent of his passes.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the 2023 first-round pick "is viewed as the presumptive starter for next season," which is only so reassuring. If he were performing up to expectations, his status for next year would already be implied without any reassurances needed.

Richardson's comments about his nagging back trouble are also somewhat concerning because his durability has quickly become a question mark. He started in just four games as a rookie and has missed two weeks through injury in 2024.

Back problems that in Richardson's words "might be chronic" would present a long-term worry.

After an embarrassing performance on Sunday against the New York Giants that ended their playoff hopes, the future of the Indianapolis Colts and general manager Chris Ballard are very uncertain.

Per ESPN's Stephen Holder, several people within the NFL are wondering what will happen with Ballard as he finishes up his eighth season with the Colts.

The Colts' postseason hopes came crashing down with a 45-33 loss to a Giants team that entered Week 17 with the worst record in the NFL (2-13) and had lost 10 straight games overall.

New York hadn't scored 30 points in a game this season prior to playing the Colts. It only scored at least 20 points four times in its first 15 games.

Ballard was named Colts general manager in January 2017. He spent the previous four years working in the front office for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The early returns for Ballard in Indianapolis were extremely promising. His second draft with the organization produced All-Pro players Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard; a starting offensive tackle in Braden Smith; and a rotation defensive end in Tyquan Smith.

That 2018 draft class helped the Colts finish 10-6 and make the playoffs. They defeated the Houston Texans in the wild-card round before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

Everything for the Colts organization changed right before the start of the 2019 regular season when Andrew Luck retired. Given the timing of his announcement, the fact they finished 7-9 that season spoke well of how much talent they had at that point around the quarterback position.

After signing Philip Rivers as a free agent, the Colts went 11-5 and made the playoffs in 2020. The quarterback spot has been a revolving door in Indianapolis since Rivers' retirement after the 2020 season.

The Colts tried going the veteran route for a couple of years with Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan to no avail. Their selection of Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft hasn't yielded strong results thus far due to a combination of injuries and struggles on the field.

During Ballard's tenure, the Colts have never won the AFC South. By comparison, the other three teams have all won the division at least twice during that span.

This season will mark the Colts' fourth time finishing with a losing record in eight years under Ballard. They haven't won more than nine games in a season since 2020.