Moving from college football to the NFL is typically a huge step up in difficulty for players — especially quarterbacks. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson does not appear to feel that way, though.
In an appearance on the “Club 520 Podcast,” Richardson argued that he found playing in the NFL easier than he did playing collegiately. His reasoning is that college players are not as confident or as driven as the pros, which forces Richardson to carry more of the load.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson on playing in the NFL vs playing in College:
“Playing in the NFL, I feel like, is easier than in college.”
(Via @club520podcast) pic.twitter.com/D2jj9bROyg
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) June 11, 2024
“Playing in the NFL, I feel like it’s easier than college,” Richardson said. “In college, you got players that are good, they know they’re good, but they’re not as confident. They got to rely on other players to do this for them to do that. In the league, everybody’s trying to work to stay in the league and keep their job and trying to ball out. That just lets me know I don’t have to do too much. I’m going to do my job, he’s going to do his job, and it’s going to work.”
Richardson is right that the cream of the crop are playing in the NFL, and his skill players are better than anything he’s faced before. On the other hand, the same is true of the teams he is playing against. That said, Richardson has done both, so he would be in some position to judge.
As a rookie, Richardson did show significant promise in four games before a shoulder injury ended his season. That shoulder is still a minor issue, but he should be fine for the season, where he will have the chance to back up his point.
