Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. explained what went into his trade request and why he voluntarily reported to the team.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts fourth-year quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. requested a trade from the team in February.
After a tumultuous first three seasons saw Richardson go from a promising young star in Year 1 to a chaotic player who was benched for a pair of games in Year 2, and ultimately became the team's backup in Year 3, Richardson and the Colts mutually agreed it may be time to move on.
"My agent talked to the team, and then they both came to an agreement (to seek a trade), and that was that," Richardson told reporters on Wednesday.
The team allowed Richardson's representation to seek out a new destination. However, as the 2026 NFL Draft came and went at the end of April, it became more questionable whether Richardson could be moved for a price the Colts deemed suitable.
"No, not really. It's a crazy league. You know, a lot of crazy things happen," Richardson said when asked if he was surprised he hadn't been traded in the three months since his request. "People get traded; some people don't. And I didn't get traded. So, that was that."
One hurdle that may stand in the way of Richardson being moved is the eye injury he suffered in a freak accident last year, which caused him to miss the final 13 weeks of the season and brought lingering vision issues.
“It’s good. I’m out there throwing the football nice," Richardson said about the current state of his vision. "They cleared me last year, so everything is smooth.”
When the Colts began their offseason program in April, which was and still is voluntary at this point of the year, Richardson did not initially report, instead electing to work out individually in Jacksonville, Fla.
After a couple of weeks of training on his own, Richardson reported to Indianapolis to join the team.
“Honestly, man, I just wanted to work," Richardson said as to why he returned to the team amid his trade request. "I was just getting tired of waiting a little bit, and I just wanted to get back right into the routine. Nothing really transpired with that, so my agent talked to (Chris) Ballard and was like, ‘We’re trying to get back to work.’”
Richardson was on the field with the team on Wednesday as OTAs began, and head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged that Richardson is in the running for the Colts' backup quarterback spot against Riley Leonard.
Requesting a trade away from a team can obviously ruffle feathers in some instances or generally create an awkward atmosphere, but Richardson doesn't see his return as anything noteworthy.
“I don’t think so. I signed a contract, so I’m still on this team regardless, since before the trade stuff," Richardson said. "I’ve got an obligation to this team to come out here and play and perform and be ready to play if they need me. I don’t think it’s weird or awkward.”
As to whether Richardson still would like to be traded, he was less committal on that.
“I’m not really focused on that right now," Richardson said. "I’m here right now. I’m just trying to make sure I’m staying healthy and keeping everything up there in the mind sharp.”
