Colts coach: Flacco offers 'best chance to win'

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Shane Steichen says the decision to bench Anthony Richardson was his and was prompted because of a belief that veteran Joe Flacco “gives us the best chance to win right now.”

Steichen on Wednesday defended his decision to replace Richardson, the No. 4 pick in 2023, after 10 career starts (six in 2024) and while his team has a 4-4 record. Asked whether he wrestled with the future implications of the decision versus the team’s present reality, Steichen said he did struggle to work through it all.

“It’s a difficult thing,” he said. “But it’s my obligation to the 53 guys in this organization to win football games, and right now, I’m focused on the present: winning football games. We’ll get to the future when we have to get to the future.”

Richardson told reporters Wednesday that “of course it hurts” to lose his starting job but added that he still feels he has support in the locker room.

“As a competitor, definitely don’t want to be told that you’re not the guy anymore for the upcoming week,” Richardson said. “… I’m using this moment as an opportunity to grow and just learn from my mistake.”

Steichen, general manager Chris Ballard and owner Jim Irsay each said after Richardson was drafted that playing and gaining valuable experience was the fastest route to his improvement. He arrived in Indianapolis tied with Mitch Trubisky (No. 2 in 2017) for the fewest college starts (13) of any quarterback drafted in the first round.

“I know I said that,” Steichen said. “Things change. So I think right now, sitting back and seeing a veteran that’s done it at a high level for a long time, you can develop that way as well.”

Steichen reiterated that Richardson’s decision to tap out for one play during Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans was not a factor in his personnel decision.

“It didn’t,” Steichen said. “He knows he can’t do that in that situation. That’s part of the growth and the development process that we go through. And again, I think [Flacco] gives us the best chance right now going forward.”

Richardson, 22, has a 44.4% completion rate this season, which is the fifth worst in a player’s first six games of a season since 2000, according to ESPN Research.

Flacco, 39, replaced Richardson when he was injured earlier this season and passed for 716 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception in parts of three games, when the Colts went 2-1.