"Colts aren't dysfunctional": Mike Florio defends Shane Steichen's decision to start Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson ahead of Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Head coach Shane Steichen raised many eyebrows on Tuesday after he announced that veteran quarterback Daniel Jones will be starting for the franchise in the 2025 season. It was an indirect blow for Anthony Richardson, who has been the starter for the team since 2023.

He was the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft and was expected to retain his position this upcoming season. However, Steichen appears to have vested his hopes on Jones, who signed with the team for a one-year $14 million deal this offseason.

While experts project this move as a potential alarm for Richardson’s future with the team, NFL insider Mike Florio believes the team is making the right choices after learning from his past mistakes.

Richardson's stint with the Colts hasn't been a pleasant one. His proximity to injuries, getting sidelined for the last two games in favor of Joe Flacco last season and multiple medical setbacks seem to have influenced Steichen to take such bold steps. Florio claims this would be a decisive move and that the Colts are not dysfunctional.

“Colts fan might think, ‘What's going on here? What are we doing? Daniel Jones is our starting quarterback? We just drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall. We heard all these great things about how he's going to transform the franchise. What's going on? Are they? Are we dysfunctional? And I would submit to you that this is a sign that currently the Colts are not dysfunctional,” Florio said on his Pro Football Talk podcast on Wednesday.

“What a dysfunctional team would do in this situation is double down, adhere to the guy that they've invested the draft capital in, because they'd be so paralyzed by fear of looking like they're admitting a mistake,” he added.

Anthony Richardson makes his opinion known after Colts' starting QB decision

The 24-year-old quarterback played in the first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month; however, it ended abruptly with a finger injury. He was then sidelined and Jones got the opportunity to flex his arm strength. In the second game against the Packers, Jones remained Steichen’s top choice.

After Tuesday’s announcement, Richardson mentioned that he has no resentment and respects the decision. It was essential for the team's 2025 outlook and his recent struggles turned out to be crucial.

“They feel like he's a better fit for the team and the outcome of us winning. You have to respect it and keep working”

The Colts open their season against the Miami Dolphins on September 7 at home. Richardson will be eagerly waiting for his chance this upcoming season.