Anthony Richardson Bio
Anthony Dashawn Richardson Sr. (born May 22, 2002) is an American professional football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and was selected by the Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Known for his rare combination of size, arm strength, and rushing ability, Richardson entered the league viewed as one of the most physically gifted quarterback prospects of his class.
Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 244 lb (111 kg), Richardson brings a dual-threat skill set that has shaped both his development and his professional opportunities. After an injury-interrupted start to his NFL career, he continues to work toward establishing himself as a long-term starter at the game’s most demanding position.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Dashawn Richardson Sr. was born on May 22, 2002, in Miami, Florida. He later moved to Gainesville, Florida, where he attended Loften High School before transferring to Eastside High School. It was at Eastside that Richardson emerged as a high-profile recruit while playing quarterback for the school’s football team.
During his high school career, Richardson compiled 4,633 passing yards with 37 passing touchdowns, alongside 1,633 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Those numbers reflected a rare dual-threat profile that drew attention from college scouts across the country. Following his senior season, he committed to play college football at the University of Florida, choosing to stay close to home in Gainesville.
Path to American Football
Richardson enrolled at the University of Florida in 2020 and appeared in just four games during his first year, completing one of two passes for 27 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He used the season to redshirt and preserve a year of collegiate eligibility while learning the offense behind more experienced players.
Entering 2021 as the backup to Emory Jones, Richardson got his first extended look against LSU, completing 10 of 19 passes for 167 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and adding a rushing score. The performance offered a glimpse of his upside, but it was in 2022 that he officially became Florida’s starting quarterback, where his blend of arm talent and athleticism began to attract national attention.
Anthony Richardson Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
In his first full season as a starter in 2022, Richardson played in 12 games and passed for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns, showcasing the dual-threat ability that would soon make him a top NFL prospect. Across his time as Florida’s starter, he posted a 6–6 record.
Scouts praised his dynamic talent as both a passer and runner, though evaluators noted areas where his accuracy and consistency needed refinement. Following the 2022 season, Richardson announced that he would forgo remaining college eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL draft, where his physical gifts positioned him as a possible first-round selection.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2023–Present)
Richardson was selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. During his first training camp, he underwent nasal septum surgery to improve his breathing. On August 15, 2023, head coach Shane Steichen named Richardson the Colts’ starting quarterback over Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger.
Richardson made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing his first touchdown pass to Michael Pittman Jr., running for a touchdown, and throwing his first interception. In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he ran for two touchdowns before leaving with a concussion. After returning the following week against the Los Angeles Rams with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score, he became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in each of his first three starts. On October 9, he was placed on injured reserve with a grade three AC joint sprain suffered in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, and on October 18 the Colts announced he would miss the rest of the season. He successfully underwent shoulder surgery six days later.
Richardson opened the 2024 season as the Colts’ starter after recovering from shoulder surgery. He missed Weeks 5 and 6 with an oblique injury and was later benched in favor of Joe Flacco after generating an NFL-worst 44.4% completion percentage through six games. After two losses with Flacco, Indianapolis announced that Richardson would return as the starter beginning in Week 11 against the New York Jets. In that return, he completed 67% of his passes for a career-high 272 yards with a touchdown and added two rushing scores, including the game-winner in the final minute of a 28–27 victory. He later orchestrated a 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a go-ahead two-point conversion to beat the New England Patriots 25–24 in Week 13. Richardson missed the final two games with a back injury and finished 2024 completing 47.7% of 264 attempts for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while rushing 86 times for 499 yards and six touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Richardson’s game is built around his rare physical profile. At 6 ft 4 in and 244 lb, he combines a strong arm with elite rushing ability for the position, allowing the Colts to design designed quarterback runs, read-option concepts, and play-action shots. His craft is still developing in the passing game, particularly with accuracy and decision-making, but his strength on designed and improvisational runs, paired with his pocket mobility, gives Indianapolis a different offensive dimension.
Notable Events and Milestones
Richardson’s most memorable early NFL moment came in his first three starts, when he became the first rookie quarterback in league history to rush for a touchdown in each of those games. He added a dramatic late comeback win over the New York Jets in 2024 and a game-winning two-point conversion against the New England Patriots later that season, milestones that underscored both his resilience and his playmaking potential.
Anthony Richardson Career Wins
Through his first three NFL seasons, Anthony Richardson has accumulated key victories as both a starter and contributor for the Indianapolis Colts, while also posting notable numbers as a college starter at the University of Florida. Verified wins include his debut-season road win over the Houston Texans, the 2024 comeback victory over the New York Jets, and the late-season win against the New England Patriots.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Richardson’s first win came during his rookie 2023 season on the road against the Houston Texans, a game in which he ran for two touchdowns before exiting with a concussion. His most dramatic victory came in Week 11 of 2024, when he returned from a benching to lead the Colts past the New York Jets 28–27 with a game-winning rushing score in the final minute. He added a Week 13 win over the New England Patriots capped by a two-point conversion, and the Colts closed 2024 with a victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 17.
Other Wins & Performances
As a college starter at Florida, Richardson led the Gators to an opening-week upset of the seventh-ranked Utah Utes in 2022, finishing that season with a 6–6 record as the starter. Across his college and NFL careers combined through 2024, he has produced 2,400 passing yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 13 interceptions and 634 rushing yards with 10 rushing scores, totals that underline his role as a developing dual-threat quarterback.
Anthony Richardson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Anthony Richardson’s immediate family background are limited in verified sources. Available information focuses on his upbringing in Miami, Florida, and his later relocation to Gainesville, where he attended Eastside High School and emerged as a top recruit. No verified details regarding parents or racing lineage are currently available.
Personal Life
Anthony Dashawn Richardson Sr. carries the suffix “Sr.” in his legal name, an indication of his family structure, though specific details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not publicly confirmed in verified sources. He continues to be recognized publicly by his official full name in professional and team settings.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Anthony Richardson opened the offseason in a quarterback competition with newly signed veteran Daniel Jones. On August 19, 2025, the Colts named Jones the starter, with Richardson sliding into a backup role to begin his third NFL campaign. The change marked a shift in Indianapolis’ long-term plans at the position.
Richardson’s 2025 season was further disrupted on October 13, when he was placed on injured reserve after fracturing the orbital bone in his eye during pregame warmups the previous day. The injury added another setback to a young career already shaped by health challenges. With the Colts navigating both a quarterback change and injuries, Richardson’s opportunities to showcase his development were limited.
Looking beyond 2025, on April 30, 2026, the Colts declined the fifth-year option on Richardson’s contract, making him a free agent after the 2026 season. The decision placed his long-term future with the franchise in question and framed the remainder of his contract window as a critical evaluation period.
