{"id":301611,"date":"2025-08-19T21:43:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/301611\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T21:43:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:43:10","slug":"robert-griffin-iii-indianapolis-colts-trying-to-tank-for-arch-manning-after-daniel-jones-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/301611\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Griffin III: Indianapolis Colts ‘trying to tank for Arch Manning’ after Daniel Jones decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback competition came to an end. Daniel Jones<\/a> will be the starter for Week 1, meaning Anthony Richardson<\/a> will serve as the primary backup.<\/p>\n

The battle drew plenty of attention after Indianapolis brought in Jones to compete with Richardson this offseason. However, FOX Sports analyst Robert Griffin III<\/a> said he thinks the Colts could be turning their attention toward Texas<\/a> quarterback Arch Manning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shortly after news broke that Jones won the starting job, Griffin said he is \u201cconvinced<\/a>\u201d the Colts are \u201ctrying to tank\u201d for Manning. As questions swirl about whether the Texas quarterback will even declare for this year\u2019s draft, he later clarified that he meant whether Manning goes out for 2026 or 2027<\/p>\n

I\u2019m convinced that the Indianapolis Colts are trying to tank for Arch Manning.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Manning continues to draw plenty of attention at Texas ahead of his first full season as the Longhorns\u2019 starting quarterback. He\u2019s listed as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at +600, according to BetMGM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s plenty of speculation about when Manning will declare for the draft. ESPN gave him\u00a0a 10% chance<\/a>\u00a0of going No. 1 overall should he opt to enter after this season.<\/p>\n

The former top recruit said during SEC Media Days he\u2019s staying in the moment and not worrying about his draft decision just yet. But during an interview with Texas Monthly, his grandfather Archie heavily implied<\/a> Arch Manning would be back at Texas in 2026 despite being draft-eligible this year.<\/p>\n

Arch received a question about his grandfather\u2019s comments Tuesday and reiterated his desire to stay in the moment<\/a>. His goal is to stay \u201cday by day\u201d ahead of the season opener against Ohio State<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I don\u2019t know where he got that from,\u201d\u00a0Manning said.\u00a0\u201cHe texted me and apologized about that. I\u2019m really just taking it day by day right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arch Manning spent two years in a backup role at Texas after arriving as the top recruit from the 2023 cycle. All told, he has played in 12 games, including 10 appearances last year while serving as\u00a0Quinn Ewers\u2019<\/a>\u00a0primary backup. Manning has 969 career passing yards and nine touchdowns to go with 115 rushing yards and four touchdowns.<\/p>\n

In fact, there\u2019s a sense in the NFL that there\u2019s a strong chance Manning returns to Texas in 2026. Cleveland Browns owner\u00a0Jimmy Haslam\u00a0said as much last month<\/a>\u00a0when asked about the Longhorns quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, if you know\u00a0the Manning family, I would bet that \u2013 and I don\u2019t know Arch at all. I\u2019d bet he stays in college two years,\u201d Haslam said. \u201cI don\u2019t even think that\u2019s worth discussing.\u201d<\/p>\n