Back when Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson was benched for a couple of games this past fall, he received some advice from Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during a moment captured by NFL Films that went viral. 

“Hey, do me a favor and remember something,” O’Connell told Richardson. “You’re a bad dude. And you’re gonna play a long time in this league. Go to work every day. Good things will happen for you. I still believe in you, I know these guys do … Man, this organization loves you. Go to work.”

For a piece published Monday, Richardson spoke with Kevin Seifert of ESPN about what that interaction meant to a 22-year-old signal-caller who may not have been sure at the time when he would get another start with the team that made him the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.  

“For him to give me those words,” Richardson explained, “it was just another boost that I needed for myself just to let me know, ‘OK, everything’s going to work out the way it should,’ and I just got to keep working. Whenever you’ve got other people believing in you, that means you’re doing something right.”

Richardson temporarily removed himself from Indianapolis’ Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans because he was “tired” and subsequently was demoted to QB2 duties for two contests. He later guided the Colts on a pair of game-winning drives after he returned to the lineup, but severe back spasms prematurely ended his campaign and left some wondering if his body can handle the type of punishment starting quarterbacks endure each season. 

The Colts are expected to have Richardson compete for the starting job with a to-be-acquired quarterback during summer training camp practices and the preseason. According to Pro Football Reference, he ended the 2024 regular season ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 47.7% completion percentage, last with a 61.6 passer rating and 33rd with a 47.5 adjusted QBR for the campaign. 

Meanwhile, the Vikings could find themselves dealing with some quarterback uncertainty after they play their final game of the ongoing postseason tournament. One wonders if Minnesota could become a potential landing spot for Richardson if the Colts decide at some point between this winter and the 2025 trade deadline that he’s not their long-term answer at the position.