News has been swirling around the Indianapolis Colts regarding the quarterback competition with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback spot. The quarterback market is big this offseason and the Colts will look to take advantage. Several potential candidates can push Richardson or even take his spot. However, the Colts need to be very careful with how they approach this unfamiliar territory.

Within the last two decades, the Colts have not had to host a quarterback competition as they have solidification with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. They even had stability when they brought in Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz who were clear-cut starters. Heading into 2025, though, there isn’t a clear-cut starter. Anthony Richardson, most definitely, is in the best position to be the starter, but it remains to be seen. Therefore, the Colts need to ensure that they do not mess this up as it could continue to set them back years.

Why the Colts Need to be Careful With Their Quarterback Competition

The History of Quarterback Competitions

The Colts need to be careful about their quarterback competition because it can negatively impact the entire team. In recent history, there have been several teams that have tried quarterback competitions and failed miserably. Most notably, the Las Vegas Raiders had a competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. A winner was announced, but the team quickly faltered with both quarterbacks and won only four games. Heading into 2025, it is unlikely that either quarterback will be starting in the NFL. Another interesting quarterback competition was Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy. Darnold would win the job and lead the Minnesota Vikings to 13 wins. Unfortunately, the team would lose in the first round of the playoffs. Darnold is a free agent in 2025 and most likely won’t be back with the team.

One of the bigger quarterback competitions in which both quarterbacks are free agents in 2025 was Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. With the Pittsburgh Steelers, both quarterbacks managed to play well when called upon. Wilson essentially won the job but got injured which paved the way for Fields. Upon Wilson’s return, the Steelers managed to go to the playoffs. However, they lost in the first round. Both Fields and Wilson are swirling in the news to go elsewhere, but both or one could remain with the team.

In light of this, the Raiders, Steelers, and Vikings have instability with their quarterback in 2025. This was done due to quarterback competitions and not knowing which way to turn. Therefore, the Colts need to find a strategy in which they do not leave 2025 with more questions than answers. The Colts must get to a place where a quarterback competition brings stability.

Ending the Quarterback Carousel

The biggest reason why the Colts need to be careful with a quarterback competition is because they need stability. As mentioned, the Colts have had 10 different quarterbacks start games since 2019. That is simply unacceptable and screams instability. One of the keys to success in the NFL is stability, and right now the Colts don’t have that at the most crucial position.

Morale amongst the fanbase is probably at an all-time low heading into 2025. The last thing the Colts want to do is continue to feed that negativity. For a quarterback competition to produce the stability that the Colts need, they must ensure that they bring in the right guy to compete. In short, the Colts must bring in a guy who can be a reliable and viable starter. He needs to be someone who can win the job from Richardson or push Richardson to earn the job. The assignment is clear. This season will be crucial to the trajectory of the Colts franchise as they navigate the unfamiliar territory of a quarterback competition. This season will be a real test to see if management is willing to risk it all and be aggressive to win big.

Main Image: Grace Hollars – USA Today Sports

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