Anthony Richardson family tree: Meet fiancee Jada Richardson, son Anthony Jr., mom LaShawnda Cleare & more

Daniel Chavkin

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Anthony Richardson family tree: Meet fiancee Jada Richardson, son Anthony Jr., mom LaShawnda Cleare & more image

Anthony Richardson's path to the NFL included much adversity.

The Colts quarterback had to had to fight to get to where he is today, as he didn't grow up under the best of circumstances. However, he did have a small, but strong, familial support system that kept him focused on the right things in his life.

Now that Richardson is in the NFL, he can look at those who helped raise him with admiration.

And as Richardson starts a family of his own, he can take what he learned from his role models and apply it as a father himself.

Here's a look at how Richardson's family helped the quarterback get to Indianapolis.

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Anthony Richardson fiancee: Jada Richardson

Both Richardson and his fiancee, Jada Richardson, actually have the same last name despite not sharing any familial ties. The couple has been together since high school but went to different colleges, as Jada attended Florida A&M to major in nursing. She currently runs a doula service for expecting mothers.

The Richardsons got engaged in February in 2024, less than a month before Jada gave birth to their son.

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Anthony Richardson son: Anthony Richardson Jr.

Richardson's son was born on March 17, 2024, a day that became one of the most important in Richardson's life.

"I was always looking forward to being a dad. … I was actually the first person to hold him when he was born and everything," Richardson said, via The Athletic. "I was just looking like, 'Man, this is really my little creation right here.' After he was born, I just sat in front of his (crib) for a good little minute. Just sitting there and looking at him."

Richardson had already been in the NFL for one season before he became a dad, and he believes his son gives him even more motivation to succeed.

"Adding my little man, it’s been a blessing," Richardson said. "I've always been a grinder, day by day. But just seeing him that first day, it was like, 'OK, now I really gotta go harder.' I thought I was going hard before, but now with him, I gotta feed another person."

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Anthony Richardson mom: LaShawnda Cleare

Growing up, Richardson mainly relied on his mother, LaShawnda Cleare, to support him. However, as Cleare explained, it wasn't always easy.

"It was hard. I struggled," Cleare said, via NFL.com. "We didn't have much. I had to work several jobs, a lot of hours without much sleep to pay for clothes, food, rent and bills. I hope people don't judge me. I did the best I could. I wanted my kids to be better than me and have a much better life. I didn't see it as a sacrifice."

Richardson gives his mother all the credit for keeping his family together and supporting him when he was younger.

"My mom always worked for everything. Didn’t question it, didn’t complain," Richardson wrote in The Player's Tribune. "She just did what she had to do. So I'll say this: I might not have gone to as many camps as other guys at this position, but not everybody had a mom like mine. Not everybody had to learn them lessons the way I did, through watching her."

After Richardson signed his rookie deal with the Colts, the first thing that he did was buy his mom a new house.

"It's me finding her a stable place to the point she doesn't have to worry about anything anymore," Richardson said. "Just seeing her sign the papers and getting the keys to her house, that was a fun moment for us because we had never done anything like that."

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Anthony Richardson stepfather: Ferrell Cleare

Richardson's mother married his step-father, Ferrell Cleare, in 2021, when Richardson had already completed his first year at the University of Florida. Cleare became part of Richardson's family, which has supporte him throughout his career.

"It's all part of the journey," Richardson said. "They've always been with me."

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Anthony Richardson dad: Will Richardson

Richardson has a complicated relationship with his father, describing it as "a work in progress, not a fairy tale father-son bond," per NFL.com. "We've both been through stuff in our lives, but we're working to get that chemistry."

While his mom raised him, Richardson says that his father wasn't always in his life, which meant he turned to football for role models.

"Being a part of football teams gave me a chance to look up to people and find mentors, because my dad wasn't always there," Richardson said, via The Player's Tribune.

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Anthony Richardson brother: Corey Carter

Richardson has one brother, Corey Carter, who is eight months younger than the quarterback. The age gap, along with their situation growing up, means Richardson had to be more than a brother to Carter.

"He's pretty much my father figure," Carter said, via NFL.com. "He's always been there for me — a big role model. In everything he does, he inspires me."

Carter was an unexpected star at the NFL Draft, as the football world was introduced to Richardson's brother for the first time at just 13 years-old. Carter was there to support his brother, and he even sent a message to Richardson through the NFL.

“Dear Anthony, I just want to take this moment to express how incredibly proud I am of you." Carter told Richardson at the NFL Draft. "I am honored to have a brother like you, and I am grateful for the examples you have set for me and others. Keep up the great work, and know that I’m always here to support you on all your future adventures. I love you, bro.”

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Anthony Richardson uncle: Tanka Lane

One of the most important people in Richardson's life was his uncle, Tanka Lane. Richardson's mother's brother, Lane got Richardson into football at a young age and gave the quarterback another father figure when he was a kid.

"His uncle Tanka showed him how to hold his arm and throw. He taught him football," Cleare said, via NFL.com. "Tanka was a funny jokester. To know Tanka is to love him. He was the male father figure in Anthony's life."

Richardson explained that Lane gave him tough love when he was younger, which was a contrast to the way his parents treated him. Lane died when Richardson was just 11 years-old.

"My mom babied me, my dad babied me, my uncle Tanka saw me as a man early. He pushed me, he got the most out of me," Richardson said, via NFL.com. "When Tanka died, it put a new fire in me and motivation to ensure nobody can stop me when I'm at my best."

Richardson described his uncle as a "comedian-type" person who became very serious aout football when Richardson picked up the game.

"That was his passion" Richardson wrote in The Player's Tribune. "I remember I'd always get sad as a kid when I threw an interception. So if I turned it over and was looking down on the next play, he’d be telling me, 'Stop all that crying, Ant, stop being a baby!!' He just didn't want me to lose my confidence. But, yeah, football was always just a big part of the relationship we had."

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Anthony Richardson mentor: Vernell Brown Jr.

Richardson met Vernell Brown Jr. at the University of Florida, as Brown served as the football program's senior director of player development. When it was time for Richardson to enter the NFL Draft, he asked Brown to follow him to the next level.

"He said, 'Hey coach VB, would you consider coming with me when I get ready to go to the NFL?' And I was like, 'Man.' It kind of caught me off guard," Brown said. "That day when he left my office, my wheels went to turning."

Brown was a Florida cornerback from 2001-05 and was known for his work ethic and leadership, actually getting the nickname "Face of Florida Football. He returned to the program in 2018 as he worked with "personal development, mental health, and collegiate affairs for current athletes."

Brown, who has a wife and five children, decided to leave his secure job at Florida to work with Richardson in the NFL. 

"He was really clear about, 'Hey, I want you to come with me.' And so now, my wheels started turning for real," Brown said. "The biggest thing for me is obviously I love Florida. I love my job at Florida, but I also love Anthony. And I think there’s nothing that can stop that kid if he has a team to help him navigate the next level." 

Now, according to his social media account, Brown is a certified NFLPA agent at EL1TE Sports Management Group. His oldest son, Vernell Brown III, is playing wide receiver for Florida as a member of the 2025 recruiting class.

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Where is Anthony Richardson from?

Richardson was born in Miami, Florida, which is where he spent the first part of his childhood, before he moved to Gainesville when he was in sixth grade. He attended Eastside High School, which is located just 15 minutes away from the University of Florida campus.

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Daniel Chavkin

Daniel Chavkin is a Digital Content Producer for The Sporting News. A 2018 graduate from the University of Maryland, he has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and NFLTradeRumors.com.