The next time Riley Leonard’s grandfather turns on the television, a new kind of pride will wash over him. Watching the freshly inducted Indianapolis Colts player from his 900-square foot cinderblock house, Gib Leonard will be well aware that Riley will be just the fourth player from Fairhope, Alabama (population: somewhere around 24,000) to reach the big league.

After Ben Rudolph and David King did in the 1980s, and Leon Lett pulled it off in the 1990s, the quarterback’s emergence almost seems like the perfect continuation of the custom—a new Fairhope hero putting the small town on the map at the turn of a new decade. But if we are to be completely honest, the perfect ending to the story… or in this case, a hallowed move to the starting lineup seems like a long time coming. The Colts may have found their next big chess move. But so far, it’s not about who starts Week 1. Instead, it’s about who fits the future. After taking a late-round swing on Leonard, the former Notre Dame and Duke standout, the team’s GM Chris Ballard made it crystal clear on The Rich Eisen Show.

This wasn’t a flyer pick. It was a strategy. A blueprint. A slow-cooked master plan designed to shake up the quarterback room and, possibly, shift the direction of the franchise. Right out of the gate, Leonard turned heads. After transferring from Duke to Notre Dame, he not only held his own—he took the Irish all the way to the national championship game, falling just short against Ohio State (23-34). His calm presence and leadership were on full display, and the Colts clearly took note, grabbing him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft (189th overall)—a pick that might end up aging like fine wine. But what’s the blueprint the team’s thinking about?

When Rich Eisen asked the same, “What do you like in Riley Leonard…and what’s your plan for him?”, Ballard didn’t mince words: “Well, I mean, look, he’ll compete for the three job. We have Jason Bean, who we brought in from Kansas last year, that we like. You know, look—we like Riley. We’ve watched a lot on him over the years. I really liked him at… I thought he really stuck out at Duke,” Ballard said. And he’s not wrong. Leonard didn’t just play at Duke—he transformed it.

“I think anytime a quarterback…if you look at history…if they elevate a program, which I thought he really helped do at Duke…Then transfers to Notre Dame and helps lead them to the national championship…He’s got some unique leadership traits. There’s definitely some skills to work with…He’s been down there working with Philip Rivers, who we have a pretty close relationship with. And Philip was raving about not only the kid, but also, he thought there was more in him as a passer. So [it will be] fun for our coaches to get [their] hands on him, and excited to get rallied,” the general manager further noted.

But here’s where the Colts’ vision gets even more interesting. Leonard fits exactly the kind of offense head coach Shane Steichen loves to run. Mobile quarterback? Check. Big arm? Check. Ability to make plays outside of structure? Double check. That’s why Ballard and Steichen were drawn to him—and why he’s more than just a clipboard holder.

Back in 2022, Riley took over the starting job and led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 season while racking up 2,967 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a 63.8% completion rate. He added another 699 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was just electric. In 2024, he upped his completion percentage to 66.7% at Notre Dame, throwing for 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just eight picks—while rushing for 906 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those are video game numbers, especially in big-time college football.

And let’s not forget the mentorship pieces already in play. Leonard has close ties with two NFL QBs—Daniel Jones, who also went to Duke, and Philip Rivers, who played for the Colts in 2020 and now coaches at a high school in Fairhope. Leonard also spent time training in Alabama with David Morris—the same guy Daniel Jones worked with—and even grabbed dinner with Jones weeks before the draft. As Riley himself said, “There’s no place I’d rather be than back in Indianapolis.”

And even head coach Shane Steichen seemed hyped about adding him to the team: “I just think the athletic ability that he has at the quarterback position, what he was able to do at Notre Dame this year, leading them to the National Championship speaks volumes of the player and the competitor that he is. Just to add that depth in that room is big.”

But Leonard’s arrival might spell storm clouds for another Colts quarterback.

Riley Leonard’s entry is making things worse for Anthony Richardson

Here’s the deal. Anthony Richardson—once dubbed the Colts’ savior—is now on shaky ground. The former No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft signed a four-year, $34 million deal through 2026, but his on-field production hasn’t exactly matched the price tag. In 2024, he completed just 47.7% of his passes. Even for a dual-threat QB, that’s a brutal number in today’s NFL.

The decision to bring in both Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard is no coincidence. Richardson’s inaccuracy, especially in intermediate routes, has been a glaring issue. Last season, his completion percentage on throws between 10–20 yards was only 52.9%, far below the NFL average of 62.9%. His passer rating on those throws? Just 78.7—nearly 30 points off the league norm.

And when he tried targeting tight ends in that same zone? It got worse. One completion in five attempts. Just 22 yards. A 45.4 passer rating when the league average sits at a scorching 123.8. That’s not a minor slump. Chemistry with tight ends is crucial in Steichen’s scheme, and Richardson hasn’t found that groove.

Sure, the athletic traits are there—rocket arm, bulldozer-like runs—but consistency? Accuracy? Composure? Still missing. Even insiders have started whispering about the Colts’ readiness to pivot. Experts agree Richardson hasn’t proven himself, and the team hasn’t shied away from saying Jones could start in 2025. Add Leonard into the mix, and it becomes clear: Indy isn’t all-in on Richardson anymore.

But due to the $34 million contract, cutting bait right now isn’t on the table. Instead, we’re likely looking at a ‘let the room battle it out’ approach—where Leonard soaks up the system in year one and Richardson gets one last shot to prove he can evolve.

Riley Leonard’s role may be limited at first, but the Colts see him as much more than a depth guy. “Riley coming in here, he’s got the physical ability to be much more than a (third-stringer), but I think that’s kind of what he’s going to be coming in,” Colts scout Mike Lacy said. “He’s going to find his way, just learn, be a sponge, soak things up, and be ready to go. We’re excited about what he can be. He’s got a long way to go, that’s for sure.”

That’s the kind of patience that’s rare in the NFL—but sometimes, it’s what turns sixth-rounders into starters. Leonard has already proven he can lead, scramble, and deliver in pressure moments. His leadership brought Duke back to relevance and took Notre Dame to the national title game. His physical tools and work ethic earned praise from legends like Rivers. Now, he’s got a front office and coaching staff that believe in him—and an offensive system that fits him like a glove.

It’s hard to say whether Richardson will bounce back, if Daniel Jones will revive his career, or if Riley Leonard is the surprise hero waiting in the wings. But what’s clear is this: the Colts have a plan—and Riley Leonard is very much a part of it. Chris Ballard didn’t just draft a backup. He drafted a potential starter with a blueprint already drawn up. The Colts’ QB room is officially one to watch—because sooner or later, someone’s going to get squeezed out.