INDIANAPOLIS — Colts owner Jim Irsay wore a sullen look late on the evening of Aug. 24, 2019, as he watched the centerpiece of his franchise abruptly walk away from the game.
Andrew Luck was done with the NFL, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback announcing his retirement in the hours after a preseason game. The news hit Irsay hard because he anticipated what was to come.
The ensuing seasons proved difficult for his team as it bounced from one veteran quarterback to the next, each potential solution more insufficient than the last.
Their boldest attempt at a resolution, the selection of Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in 2023, was supposed to bring the quarterback carousel to a stop. But on Tuesday, the Colts raised a host of new questions by benching Richardson amid a challenging second season in favor of 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco.
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It's a dramatic change in approach for the Colts, who are prioritizing the fate of their current season over the long-term development of their franchise quarterback. The Colts insist they aren't through with Richardson, who, at 22, was the NFL's youngest starting quarterback. What any of this means long term remains to be seen.
The Colts became enamored with Richardson before the draft, selecting him after he made 13 starts at Florida and vowing to commit to his success.
«It's going to be tough,» Irsay said then. «We know that. But he has to play to get better. There's no question.… We have to get Anthony on the
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