Anthony Richardson details value of playing with Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco

Anthony Richardson recognizes the value of leaning on his veteran teammates as he acclimates himself to the NFL.

Last season, Richardson had Gardner Minshew as his backup, and the former Florida Gators quarterback was sponging whatever knowledge he could from the now-Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller. Entering 2024, the Indianapolis Colts went out and signed Joe Flacco to replace Minshew, and Richardson is already learning what he can from the former Super Bowl champion.

“That was amazing,” Richardson told the crew on The Pat McAfee Show, regarding working with Minshew last season and Flacco this offseason. “The crazy thing about Gardner, we trained in the same place, when I was at UF. He was training with (Quarterback Coach) Denny [Thompson] when I was training with Denny. So I like, got to watch him throw a little bit. It was like, he’s an interesting guy. Once I got to Indy and I saw him, I was like, ‘Okay, he definitely is a cool, interesting guy.’ But just learning some different stuff from him. He’s a smart guy, so I tried to implement that in my style of play, and my type of study, just watching him last year.

“And now having Joe, it’s like, you know that’s a legend right there, and I get to sit next to him in the locker room and just ask questions. Like, it’s amazing.”

Alas, it’s hard for Richardson not to be starstruck by Flacco’s presence. While he respects Minshew, he grew up watching Flacco, and it’s been surreal to have him as a teammate with the Colts.

“It’s crazy, because Joe was in the NFL when I was in elementary school,” Richardson told the media earlier this offseason. “So it’s like man, every time I see him it’s like, ‘Man, there’s Joe Flacco right there.’ You know, I ask him questions all the time. 

“He’s just laid back. He’s chill. I’m like, ‘Okay.’ I just ask him like, ‘How do you feel, now that you’re the older guy?’ He’s like, ‘I don’t see it like that, but it’s all good.’ Then in meeting rooms, he’s telling me certain things like, ‘I would do this, and I would do this, but you know, that’s just me.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, cool, I’ll take it and add it to my bank.’ But it’s amazing, just to have a veteran guy like that. It’s Joe Flacco. Yeah. … He played with Ray Lewis and all of those guys. I just remember like, riding on the school bus while he was winning the Super Bowl. So it’s amazing. It’s Joe Flacco man.”

The Colts are hoping Minshew and Flacco’s influence can help mold Richardson into the quarterback he has the potential to become. So far, so good it seems, as Richardson is taking to their advice like a fish to water.