Colts HC Shane Steichen clarifies QB decision between Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco 'going forward'

The Indianapolis Colts announced the decision to bench starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for backup Joe Flacco on Tuesday, and on Wednesday coach Shane Steichen provided a little more information on the decision.

Steichen said that Flacco will be the starter “going forward,” indicating this is not a temporary decision.

According to a report from Mike Chappell of FOX59, Steichen noted he is not giving up on Richardson, the second-year quarterback who has struggled so far this season. He also noted that the decision to bench Anthony Richardson was his call.

Richardson will now serve as the team’s primary backup.

The former Florida Gators quarterback has flashed at times, but he drew the ire of fans and analysts alike by taking himself out of the game this past weekend due to fatigue. Flacco, who played well when spelling Richardson as the sophomore quarterback dealt with injuries earlier this season, will now have another shot at leading the team.

Moreover, Richardson has been struggling throughout the season, and that didn’t change against the Texans on this past Sunday during a 23-20 loss, as he went 10 of 32 passing for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 45 yards.

His play hasn’t been the best, but that, compounded with willingly taking a play off as the team’s quarterback may have been too much for the Colts to deal with. ESPN’s Adam Schefter specifically noted he doesn’t recall a similar situation ever occurring in the past.

“It came up in some conversations this morning. Nobody that I spoke to can recall that ever happening before,” Schefter explained, via a Monday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “Here’s the amazing thing about that, is that you can tap out, and you can say when it comes up, I don’t know, ‘My stomach’ or ‘I had a cramp.’ … ‘I felt something in my knee, my shoulder.’ 

“Whatever. Like, for you to say, ‘I’m tired,’ you can’t say that. You can’t say that. That’s your quarterback. That’s your quarterback.”

Time will tell when Anthony Richardson gets another chance, but the Colts are Joe Flacco’s team for the time being, it seems. Indianapolis is 4-4 and only two games out of first place, so there’s potential for another playoff run from the veteran quarterback, who led the Cleveland Browns on a winning-streak in 2023.

On3’s Steve Samra also contributed to this report.