Colts QB Anthony Richardson requests trade after disappointing tenure: Sources

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has requested a trade, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday. The 2023 No. 4 pick is seeking a new home after an up-and-down three-year tenure in Indianapolis that has mostly been more down than up.

Richardson’s request is not surprising after he lost the starting job to Daniel Jones last season, and the Colts are trying to re-sign Jones to a long-term deal in free agency. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen have also spoken highly of 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard as a potential backup at quarterback, which all but solidifies that Richardson has no chance to start again in Indianapolis.

Richardson was the Colts’ highest-drafted player since Andrew Luck in 2012. After Luck shockingly retired ahead of the 2019 season, the Colts ran through a series of veteran QBs before drafting Richardson, hoping he would become a long-term solution. Richardson, however, hardly lived up to his draft slot.

The dual-threat signal-caller, who turns 24 in May, has appeared in just 17 games through his first three years. Richardson has been plagued by injuries and inaccuracy, as well as immaturity that led to a two-game benching in 2024. He completed just 47.7 percent of his passes in 11 games in 2024, the lowest mark in the league and the lowest in franchise history.

Richardson ended the 2025 season on injured reserve due to an orbital fracture he suffered due to a “freak accident” during pregame warmups, as league sources described to The Athletic. The injury left Richardson with impaired vision in his right eye. Ballard said Tuesday at the combine that Richardson has yet to make a full recovery.

“It’s trending in the right direction. Still got a ways to go,” Ballard said. “But he’s cleared to play, and the eye’s getting better, so we just work from there.”

Richardson’s eye will be a key factor in any potential trades getting done. He also has a pricey $10.8 million cap hit in 2026.