The expectations for Riley Leonard in his first career start were simple: manage the game and make your completions. If you have a shot, take it – but just be smart and move the football.
Leonard did a whole lot more than that on Sunday against the Houston Texans and their No. 1 defense. Because of it, a lot of people learned just what the rookie is capable of – including Shane Steichen and even Leonard himself.
"I learned that he can definitely play in this league for a long time," Steichen said after the 38-30 loss on Sunday. "The way he prepares, we see it. We've seen it all season, but to get out there and do it against the top defense like he did, especially – I know they took some of their guys out in the second half, but to have 17 points in the first half versus those guys was pretty impressive."
"I definitely felt, when I was out there, that I can play," Leonard said." And I felt like I was a little bit in control of my destiny."
Leonard, prior to facing off against the Texans in Week 18, had already gotten a taste of what NFL quarterbacking was like. The rookie came on for three quarters of relief against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14 after Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in a gut-punch of a loss.
But that performance against the Jaguars – in which he went 18-of-29 for 145 yards and an interception, with no touchdowns – wasn't how Leonard imagined he would get his first meaningful minutes of NFL football, and it certainly wasn't up to his standards of what he knew he could do in the league.
Week 18 afforded the 23-year-old an entire week of preparation as the starting quarterback, giving him the opportunity to learn from Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers and the rest of his teammates in a way that would directly translate onto the football field. No longer was he reviewing film to then go see another guy make the play on the field – now, Leonard was game-planning for himself.
Leonard took advantage of it all, and it showed.
"Having a full week of practice is the biggest thing ever for a young quarterback, and really for any quarterback," Leonard said. "It's good to get those reps under my belt, I got a lot more to learn, but thank goodness I got the best coaches and the best people around me. Philip being a guy that I've always looked up to, lives a mile from my house, we're both in Fairhope, Alabama and here he is coaching me on the sidelines. I mean, you have no idea how important it is for a rookie quarterback to go to the sidelines and you've got Daniel Jones and all the coaches and everybody just pouring into you."
And despite the final score that forced the Colts to end the 2025 season on a seven-game losing streak, Leonard's performance was a positive in just about every way.
"Shoot, I thought he played a tremendous game," Steichen said. "Obviously, there's a few plays I'm sure he'd want back, just like we all would, but he did some really good things for us."
Leonard impressed from the first drive of Sunday's game, launching a 66-yard touchdown pass to – who else – wide receiver Alec Pierce. It was a career-long reception for Pierce, a career-long completion for Leonard (and his first career passing touchdown) and the longest touchdown pass allowed by the Texans all season.
Leonard went on to connect with Pierce four more times, including on a 53-yard pass that brought the Colts one yard short of the end zone; Leonard scampered across the goal line on the very next play to score his second career rushing touchdown.
"I was super proud of Riley," Pierce, who notched his first season with 1,000 receiving yards (with Leonard's help) said. "I think he did a great job out there today. Tough defense to get your first start against. He went out there and gave us a chance and let us make some plays."
Leonard finished Sunday's game 21-for-34 for 270 yards and two touchdowns, as well as three carries for 21 rushing yards and a touchdown. He took one sack and had one interception, and ended the day with two fumbles (both of which were recovered by the Texans).
Steichen said Leonard was "tremendous." Leonard said he has a lot of work to do. Both things are true, and both are accurate reflections of the rookie's first career start.
"I try to be optimistic, but at the end of the day, take kind of full ownership of that loss," Leonard said. "Didn't play well enough when I needed to. I had a lot of good, but too much bad – too much bad by me. A couple plays can change a game, and those plays – I didn't perform. Didn't put the defense in a good spot.
"But I guess that's the NFL, and that's what I'm learning. But it was fun. It was fun. I mean, what an opportunity. Something you dream of your entire life, and every snap that I was out there, I had goosebumps just thinking, 'Man, I made it.'"
And to make the moment even more special, Leonard's family was in attendance to see it. His parents – who he credits with spending countless hours traveling to see him play football at every level – were among his friends and family in the stands at NRG Stadium to witness many of Leonard's "firsts".
"It meant everything," Leonard said. "They come to a lot of games and for them to – all that money and travel that they spend, (to) finally pay off is really cool. I'm very happy. I was able to look up there, they were just a few rows deep, and just kind of feel them all game. Look at them when things are going good, don't look at them when things are going bad, cause they're going to stress me out even more...but when things are going good, I give them a head nod."
Leonard's parents being at the stadium also meant he had somebody to shovel his first career touchdown ball to, to have it as a keepsake for himself and his family. And Leonard's father was on the same page, making sure to be down at the railing to catch a toss from his son.
"It's hard to keep these footballs because they want to keep them always," Leonard said. "But I figured I might as well just throw them the ball, that way they can't take it back."
And while that toss wasn't the same as any Leonard made while the clock was running, it was still one of the most important of the day.
