Colts' Anthony Richardson provides roadside assistance to fan

Stephen Holder, ESPNMar 20, 2024, 06:58 PM ET

CloseStephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Parker Suddeth and his girlfriend found themselves stranded on an Indianapolis interstate last week with a shredded rear tire.

The person who came to their aid is the same individual the Indianapolis Colts are hoping lifts their franchise to the next level.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson pulled over to help after noticing Suddeth's desperate attempts to flag down passing vehicles, his agent, Deiric Jackson, confirmed to ESPN.

Anthony Richardson pulled over to help a stranger stranded on the highway with a flat tire.

Class act. 💙👏 (via parker_p80/IG) pic.twitter.com/0HnpqMikuH

— NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2024

Suddeth told WXIN-59 that he was having difficulty with the last remaining lug nut and could not remove the tire.

Richardson, 21, gave Suddeth and his girlfriend, Zoe Reuter, a ride to a nearby auto parts store to get the necessary tools. Richardson gave the couple $200 he had on him to pay for a new tire.

Suddeth said he didn't realize who Richardson was until they struck up a conversation in the quarterback's car.

"I asked, 'Hey, what do you do for a living?'" Suddeth said. "He said, 'I'm a football player. ... I play for the Colts.'"

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Suddeth put the pieces together and realized Richardson's identity, responding, "I guess I'm a fan now."

Suddeth posted the encounter on Instagram this week. Richardson didn't even mention it to Jackson, who called him upon seeing viral social media posts.

Richardson said he stopped to help on his way to a meeting. He said he was early so, "why not?"

That small decision ended up being a big deal for Suddeth and Reuter.

"It's a little bit life-changing," Reuter told the station. "Because, otherwise, I would have had to go and spend all the money I would have spent on my gas tank on the tires."

Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, is rehabbing after a season-ending shoulder surgery cut short his rookie season. He recently resumed throwing and is expected to be fully recovered before training camp.

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