As the Indianapolis Colts gear up for the 2024 NFL season, quarterback Anthony Richardson is embracing the challenge with renewed focus and insight, heavily influenced by the legendary Tom Brady.
In a recent conversation with ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark, Richardson shed light on the profound impact Brady’s approach to the game has had on him.
Richardson highlighted that Brady’s success was less about physical attributes and more about his mental approach and deep passion for football.
“It was his ambition for the game, and the amount of love you gotta have for the game, ” Richardson said. “For it to really like mean something, (the love has to be) astronomical.
“A lot of people love football, but do you love it to the point where it’s like, if it’s taken away from you, you can’t really live without it.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Richardson shared a personal story that shaped his understanding of football’s significance.
He recounted a time when his mother temporarily pulled him from the sport due to a poor report card. This moment was a wake-up call for Richardson, demonstrating how deeply he valued playing football.
“I’ve been to that point,” he said. “My mom pulled me out of football just because I had a C on my report card. I was like, dang, I want to play football so I gotta do better.”
Richardson admired Brady for his ability to elevate his game despite not having the strongest physical tools.
Taking inspiration from Brady, Richardson is keen to integrate this mindset into his own game.
“Seeing Tom, he wasn’t the most physical dude,” Richardson said. “He wasn’t the fastest dude. He couldn’t throw it the furtherest. But he always made it look easy.
“It was like, dang, how did he do that. He just dove into learning the game and tried to be better than he was yesterday.”
“It’s like, OK … I know what I can do. I can run and jump and throw the ball far. If I can take that small little piece from him, the rest is gonna be history.”
Adding to the optimism surrounding Richardson’s development, Colts head coach Shane Steichen recently compared him to NBA star Steph Curry.
Steichen, emphasizing Richardson’s unique skills, stated, “People ask this a lot, like, ‘Hey, are you gonna limit the run game?’” Steichen said. “And I kind of think like, ‘Shoot, are you gonna limit Steph Curry from shooting 3-pointers?’ Well, that’s one of Anthony’s strengths, right? So we’re not gonna get away from that. That’s what he does well.”
What are your thoughts on Richardson’s comments and Brady-like approach to improving his game???