The Indianapolis Colts have reached a decision in their months-long quarterback competition, and the result is already turning heads. Head coach Shane Steichen has selected Daniel Jones as the Week 1 starter, sources told ESPN, beating out 2023 first round pick Anthony Richardson.
The move gives the Colts a proven, if inconsistent, veteran under center, while raising questions about what this means for Richardson’s future in Indianapolis. More than anything, it signals that the coaching staff still doesn’t fully trust Richardson to run the offense when it matters most.
Why Shane Steichen Chose Jones
GettyDaniel Jones signed a one year, $14 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts in March 2025.
The Colts signed Jones in March on a one year, $14 million contract after injuries and inconsistency clouded Richardson’s rookie season. From the outside, the two quarterbacks appeared evenly matched during camp. Richardson put together one of his healthiest and most encouraging summers as a pro, showing flashes of the playmaking ability that made him the No. 4 overall pick in 2023.
But Steichen made clear the decision hinged on finer details. “It’s everything,” Steichen said after Saturday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. “The operation, the communication in the huddle, the checks, getting guys on the same page. The consistency of all that, obviously, is going to play a big factor in this.”
In other words: Richardson may have looked the part at times, but Jones provided the steadier hand the Colts felt they needed to begin the season.
Jones Gets a Career Reset, Richardson Waits
GettyIs Anthony Richardson still the future for the Colts or is his time up?
For Jones, Indianapolis represents a fresh start after his rocky tenure in New York. Once viewed as the Giants long term answer at quarterback, Jones was benched last season before being released, ending a run that saw him post two of the lowest QBR marks of his career in 2023 (36.3) and 2024 (47.8). Now, he gets the chance to stabilize a Colts team that has cycled through quarterbacks since Andrew Luck’s retirement.
Richardson, meanwhile, faces an uncertain road. The Colts insist he doesn’t need to win the job to remain part of the team’s plans, but this decision pushes back his development timeline. The front office must also make a decision on his fifth year option for 2027, a significant financial commitment that looks less straightforward with Jones under center.
The Colts decision to start Jones is as much about the present as it is the future. Steichen’s staff is betting that a veteran quarterback can maximize the roster right now and avoid the growing pains that typically come with a young passer. But the move also creates a delicate balance: if Jones struggles, pressure will mount to turn back to Richardson, and if Richardson sits too long, questions about his long term viability in Indianapolis will only grow louder.
In the end, the Colts may have solved their Week 1 dilemma, but the franchise’s bigger quarterback question, and whether they truly believe in Anthony Richardson, remains very much alive.
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