​The Indianapolis Colts pursued an expensive strategy this offseason to bolster their offense, re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million deal and wide receiver Alec Pierce to a four-year, $114 million contract. Yet, while those moves were crucial for shoring up the passing game, they may not represent the core strength of this team. ESPN dissected each NFL club, and analyst Mike Clay identified Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ running backs as the franchise’s primary forte.
Clay highlighted that Taylor is among the league’s elite backs and closed out a standout 2025 campaign by leading the NFL in carries and rushing touchdowns, while ranking in the top three in touches and rushing yardage. He noted that Taylor, who had previously been a modest threat in the Colts’ passing attack, broadened his game in 2025, climbing into the top 10 among backs in routes, targets, receptions and receiving yards, and posting career highs in all those receiving categories. This leap occurred despite a pronounced drop in production after quarterback Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14.
Last season, Taylor reached a new apex as an offensive player, earning his third straight Pro Bowl berth. He logged eight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage, including three games surpassing 150 yards, and five games with at least three touchdowns. Taylor led the league in carries (323), rushing first downs (84), rushing touchdowns (18), and total touchdowns (20). He finished second in total touches (369) and third in rushing yards (1,585) and yards from scrimmage (1,963), while ranking eighth among running backs in receiving first downs (15) and tying for 10th in yards per carry (4.9). Beyond his rushing prowess, Taylor posted career highs in pass targets (55), receptions (46), receiving yards (378), and tied his personal best with two receiving touchdowns. He also achieved personal bests in receiving first downs (15), receiving success rate (54.5%), and pass protection grade (58.6), per Pro Football Focus.
Off the field, Taylor’s ability to contribute as both a rusher and a receiver has grown, and he has moved closer to surpassing the franchise’s rushing touchdown record set by Hall of Famer Edgerrin James. With 1,629 rushing yards still needed to eclipse James’ mark, Taylor remains on a historic trajectory.
As for ideas about how the Colts will proceed in 2026, the question is whether they will continue to lean into Taylor’s heavy workload. Colts head coach Shane Steichen spoke about Taylor’s season-long usage and health status. “I think he led the league last year in carries, but talking to him after the season, he said he felt good,” Steichen said. “But yeah, obviously he’s a (heck) of a player. It’s hard to take him off the field when he’s running so good.” The conversation around Taylor’s role will be central to how Indianapolis balances its offense and maximizes its potential with Jones and Pierce in the fold, while still leveraging the ground-and-pound power that has defined the team’s identity. Whether the Colts will keep pushing the pedal to the metal with Taylor in 2026 remains to be seen, but the evidence of his impact is unmistakable.