The Indianapolis Colts voted on their seven captains for the upcoming 2023 season, and one of the spots included rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The majority of captains typically come in the form of veterans—five of the team’s seven captains have held the honor at least once before. And though Richardson has been one of the biggest storylines since joining the team in April, his captaincy wasn’t given.
It was earned from the respect he’s garnered from his teammates.
“I think it’s big. It just shows what the team has thought about him. I mean these were not, there was no favoritism – these guys, it was their votes and they voted him to be one of the top seven captains,” said head coach Shane Steichen on Thursday. “I’m excited for him to get that honor. I think that’s a big honor as a rookie. To get that just kind of really speaks volumes about what the team thinks about him.”
The other six captains include defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, linebacker Shaquille Leonard, guard Quenton Nelson, linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Kenny Moore II and center Ryan Kelly.
All except Kelly have had the “C” on their chest for at least one prior season to 2023.
It’s easy to see how much Richardson enjoys putting the work in and going through the process of learning at the highest level. That aspect of his personality is contagious.
“You know what, I think it’s just his contagious personality. He’s got something special about him that says like, ‘I want to be around this guy.’ He’s fun to talk to, he can relate to everybody. I think that’s what makes him special, that’s part of it,” Steichen said. “Obviously, he’s a very talented player but when you add that extra piece of the hard work and the character and the preparation part of it – I think that’s when guys have success in this league.”
Fellow captains echoed those statement as well when asked about Richardson as a leader.
“I would just say with Anthony (Richardson) being a captain so young, it speaks to how he carries himself in the building, just the respect we all have for him,” said Franklin.
Even his center, who joins Richardson as a first-time captain, sees the growth taking place on a daily basis.
“I think he just keeps growing. I mean, he’s grown every single day he’s been here. He keeps getting better, learning from his mistakes and owning them – I think ownership a lot in that position and in general in the NFL goes a long way. Obviously, well deserved,” Kelly said.
There will be some growing pains throughout his rookie season but one thing is clear. Richardson has earned the respect of his peers almost immediately.