Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen spoke with the media on Wednesday for the first time since it was reported that the team was benching Anthony Richardson in favor of veteran Joe Flacco.
“Alright, I’ll start off just by confirming Joe will be our quarterback going forward,” said Steichen on Wednesday. “Tough decision, but one I felt was in the best interest of our football team. I feel that Joe gives us the best chance to win right now.”
Of note from this opening statement is that Steichen said Flacco would be the starter “going forward,” which insinuates that this isn’t just a short-term decision.
When pressed further and asked if this would be a one-week benching for Richardson, Steichen reiterated that Flacco is the team’s quarterback “going forward.”
Steichen would then again say that Richardson subbing himself out of Sunday’s game in Houston for a play was not a factor in the decision. He also added that owner Jim Irsay was not part of the decision either.
Ultimately, at 4-4 on the season, the Colts find themselves still in the thick of the AFC playoff race, and Flacco, who has certainly been the much more steady passer of the two, gives Indianapolis the best chance to win.
“I’m just looking where we’re at as a football team, sitting at .500 with a lot of football left, and feel that Joe gives us the best chance going forward,” Steichen said.
As far as what the future holds for Richardson, he will be the Colts’ backup behind Flacco and the organization is not giving up the young quarterback.
“With that being said,” continued Steichen, “not giving up on Anthony, by any means. Really not. He’s a young player with a ton of talent and he’ll use this time to continue to develop and grow as a professional.”
In theory, that plan makes sense. However, as I discussed on Tuesday, if we take a look around the NFL, rarely has a young quarterback been benched and then come back with that same team improved. Perhaps the Colts and Richardson will be the outlier in this situation.
And while Steichen said that the organization is not giving up on Richardson and that this will be a time for him to grow and develop, he certainly didn’t speak with any certainty when asked if Richardson would start again for the Colts:
“I can’t predict the future, but, I mean, that would be great,” said Steichen. “We’ll see.”
I asked Shane Steichen if he thinks Anthony Richardson will start for the #Colts again:
“I can’t predict that, but I’m not losing faith in that. I promise you that.”
Is the plan for AR to start again?
“I can’t predict the future, but, I mean, that would be great. We’ll see.” pic.twitter.com/022YJgwEXn
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 30, 2024
For now, and for the foreseeable future, this is Flacco’s team and as far as Richardson goes, all we know right now is that he is the backup.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)