Rapid Reaction: Colts Agree To New Multi-year Contract Extension With Star Rb Jonathan Taylor

According to multiple league reports, the Indianapolis Colts reached a 2-year, $44 million contract extension (featuring $39 million guaranteed) with star running back Jonathan Taylor:

The 27-year-old running back had been entering the last year of a 3-year, $42 million contract extension that he had inked back in October of 2023 following a contentious and highly public summer hold-out with the team.

This latest contract extension will keep him as an Indianapolis Colt for arguably the remaining prime of his playing career and through the 2028 season.

It was seemingly a domino effect, after Atlanta Falcons’ 24-year-old reigning NFL First-Team All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson signed a 3-year deal with his club, worth up to $75 million (with $51M guaranteed).

After hearing that breaking news earlier this week, Taylor indicated firsthand that he’d have to ‘tap in’ to his agent, and just days later, he signed the 3rd largest deal for a running back ever in NFL history.

Earlier this offseason, while it’s a business, Taylor indicated his preference to “retire a Colt,” and team owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon seemed to have a fresh perspective when asked just a few weeks ago on re-signing one of the greatest running backs in Indianapolis franchise history and a potential future Hall of Famer, saying, “I would love if he would be a Colt for life.”

Those comments were quite a contrast to her late father Jim Irsay’s comments in the summer of 2023, regarding the ongoing contentious contract negotiation with Taylor, when he stated, “If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one’s gonna miss us. The league goes on. We know that. The National Football (League) rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Given that Robinson’s new deal set the elite running back market, and provided the Colts a reasonable measuring stick for Taylor’s fair market value, and the two sides made quick work to keep him in Indianapolis for at least the next three seasons (including this one where he was already under contract).

Even with the uncertainty of the Colts leadership at general manager and head coach going forward, Taylor projects to have at least three more elite seasons left in him. He keeps himself in tip-top shape, and is coming off another highly productive 2025 season in which he rushed for 1,585 total rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 323 total carries (4.9 ypc. avg.) during all 17 starts—earning Pro Bowl honors again.