EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Surrounded by the teammates he’d just led to victory, Anthony Richardson sat on a chair in the visitor locker room at MetLife Stadium, his eyes welling with tears.
The young Indianapolis Colts quarterback had tried to hold down the emotion. He’d succeeded in doing just that a few minutes before, during his postgame news conference, stoically answering questions about his triumphant return to the starting lineup.
But here in the locker room, amid the men he desperately didn’t want to disappoint, he seemed to finally let what had just happened wash over him. Richardson had led the Colts to a come-from-behind 28-27 victory. But, of course, it was so much more than that. The last 20 days, in which Richardson went from starter to backup to starter again, weighed on his spirit. Sunday’s outing helped ease the burden, as the 22-year-old led the first fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning touchdown drive of his career.
“I’m trying not to cry right now,” said Richardson, still wearing the blood-stained pants from the game. “Lord knows, the past couple weeks have been a little challenging, just mentally, but I stuck with it. … Just going out there and showcasing stuff like that, it’s a blessing, bro.”
#Colts Week 11 recap:
• Anthony Richardson’s ultimate redemption game
• AR’s clutch fourth-quarter drive
• AR’s business-like approach
• Shane Steichen praises AR
• Laiatu Latu’s big day
• Kwity Paye ends the gameMore coming to @TheAthleticNFL —> https://t.co/4H6T5OPQPa pic.twitter.com/4wlXQI6VMf
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 17, 2024
Richardson’s deep voice quivered as he gathered himself and gazed around a joyous locker room that featured several gleeful conversations, mostly about him. This was the kind of euphoria Richardson dreamed of as a kid, and it was unfolding right before his eyes thanks to a clutch performance that he hopes is nowhere close to the last of his career.
Trailing 27-22 with 2:41 left in the game, Richardson took the field in front of 80,582 frenzied fans at MetLife Stadium and proceeded to break most of their hearts. All he needed was six plays to march 70 yards on a drive that may have saved the Colts’ season and playoff hopes.
AR to AP and we’re in business.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/JviMPeGu75
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024
Richardson opened the drive with a four-yard run before unleashing a pinpoint pass to wide receiver Alec Pierce down the near sideline for a 39-yard gain to jumpstart the offense. He then connected with wideout Josh Downs on the very next play for 17-yard catch that put the Colts in the red zone. Three plays later, Richardson found himself standing 4 yards away from the goal line.
“It was an automatic QB run right there,” Richardson said. “I just told myself, ‘I’m getting in the end zone regardless of what happens.’”
He kept his word.
Just watching this on repeat. #DETvsIND 11/24 on FOX pic.twitter.com/Gm48NbxV1Q
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 18, 2024
Richardson followed his blockers, wide receiver Ashton Dulin and rookie left tackle Matt Goncalves, around the left edge before lowering his shoulder and running over Jets cornerback D.J. Reed. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox wasn’t caught off guard by the physicality Richardson displayed on his game-winning TD run since the young QB had ran over New York safety Jalen Mills on a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter.
On that play, Alie-Cox said Richardson made Mills look like he “caught the Holy Ghost” because of how hard Richardson hit him, and the young QB didn’t let up as the Colts’ playoff hopes hung in the balance down the stretch.
WOW. Anthony Richardson with the truck-stick TD 💪
📺: #INDvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ckY85OazuX— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024
Two weeks ago, Richardson was deemed a quitter by many for tapping out of division game against the Texans.
On Sunday, he was crowned a winner after producing brilliant fourth quarter. It was probably the best 15 minutes of Richardson’s career.
In the final frame, Richardson touched the ball 12 times and accounted for 137 of the Colts’ 140 total yards of offense. He completed 8-of-10 passes for 129 yards, with six completions of 10-plus yards. Richardson also notched two carries for eight yards, including the game-sealing touchdown. All told, Richardson finished with career-highs in completion percentage for a full game (20-of-30 66.7%), passing yards (272), total yards (304), passer rating (106.5) and total touchdowns (3).
“I don’t know if there is any reward to me, but I just hope my teammates see that I’m willing to do anything for them,” Richardson said. “I’m willing to put my body on the line to go sacrifice anything on the field for them. But I definitely appreciate them for just trusting me and believing in me throughout the whole process, regardless of what we had going on.”
One of the main people in Richardson’s corner? Third-string QB Sam Ehlinger. An emotional Richardson hugged Ehlinger and credited the four-year veteran for not judging him so harshly when, at times, it felt like the whole world was doing just that.
“Sam has always been in my corner,” Richardson said. “Ever since I got here.”
Steichen cited Richardson’s preparation as the No. 1 reason he was demoted. So, as Richardson worked to regain his QB1 status — a job he wasn’t sure when he’d get another crack at — Ehlinger decided to work with him. The 2021 sixth-round pick couldn’t relate to being a top-five pick, but he could show Richardson what it means to be a pro.
They had already bonded throughout game days, practices and film sessions. But when Richardson lost his job as a starter, Ehlinger helped him reevaluate his “system,” which stretched far beyond the field.
“I just told him, ‘The systems and habits you create determine the man you’re gonna be, the father you’re gonna be, the husband you’re gonna be, and then, ultimately, the player you’re gonna be,’” Ehlinger said. “We talked a lot about just building the right system to give you the best chance.”
Richardson’s renewed focus manifested itself in a performance that anyone with a rooting interest in the Colts hopes is a sign of things to come. Colts coach Shane Steichen certainly thinks so after watching Richardson put the team on his back Sunday.
“I just told him, ‘Phenomenal job, man,’” Steichen said, repeating his post-game message to Richardson. “’Let’s keep it going. Keep preparing the right way every week, man. You keep doing what you’re doing — man, it’s gonna be special.”
Stuck together and fought. pic.twitter.com/gT8Iqcx1Ut
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024
Of course, Richardson didn’t win Sunday’s game alone. Steichen had a much better game as a play caller, leaning into Richardson’s strengths as a runner (10 carries), while staying committed to running back Jonathan Taylor (24 carries, 57 yards) for as long as he could. Downs (five catches, 84 yards and a touchdown) continues to look like a budding star, and while the defense struggled at times, it did just enough to win. It held the Jets to just 27 yards and zero first downs on their first five drives, and Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye sacked Jets QB Aaron Rodgers twice, punctuated by a take down of the QB on the final play of the game. Colts kicker Matt Gay also came up big with three field goals of 40-plus yards, including a 56-yarder in the third quarter.
However, as most Colts players gladly put it, Sunday’s game was about the Colts’ young and tantalizing QB, who found redemption after seizing his second chance.
“I’m just so proud of him because he deserves it,” Ehlinger said of Richardson. “He’s been put in a really unique situation, and he’s been given very unique gifts. I just I want to see him be the best that he can be.”
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
