Jonathan Taylor Profile, Stats, Career & 2026 Season

Jonathan Taylor is one of the Indianapolis Colts’ most important offensive players. The running back joined the Colts as the 41st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and quickly became a major part of the team’s offense. His combination of speed, power and big-play ability has made him a consistent threat on the ground.

Taylor enters the 2026 NFL season as an active member of the Colts and continues to wear No. 28. He also remains one of the team’s key leaders, serving as a team captain for the 2026 season.

Read More:

• Indianapolis Colts 2026 Schedule and Squad
• Indianapolis Colts: History

Jonathan Taylor Player Information

Career of Jonathan Taylor

History of Jonathan Taylor

Early Life

Jonathan Taylor was born on January 19, 1999, in Salem, New Jersey. He grew up as a talented athlete and made an early name for himself in football.

At Salem High School, Taylor became one of New Jersey’s top high school running backs. He finished his high school career with 4,642 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns. During his senior year, he rushed for 2,815 yards, setting a New Jersey state record at the time.

Taylor also competed in track and field. He won two state titles in the 100-meter dash, with a best time of 10.49 seconds. His speed later became one of the most important parts of his football game.

College Career at Wisconsin

Taylor originally committed to Rutgers but changed his decision and chose the University of Wisconsin–Madison in November 2016. He played three seasons for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017 through 2019.

His freshman season immediately put him in the national spotlight. In 2017, Taylor rushed for 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also helped Wisconsin reach the Big Ten Championship Game and win the Orange Bowl.

Taylor became even more productive in 2018. He led the FBS with 2,194 rushing yards and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. He was also named a unanimous first-team All-American.

In 2019, Taylor rushed for another 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns. He became only the second FBS player to record two seasons with more than 2,000 rushing yards. He won the Doak Walker Award again and was once more named a unanimous first-team All-American.

Taylor finished his Wisconsin career with 6,174 rushing yards, along with 50 rushing touchdowns. He also set an FBS record with 12 career games of at least 200 rushing yards. After his junior season, he announced that he would enter the 2020 NFL Draft instead of playing his senior year.

Professional Career

The Indianapolis Colts selected Jonathan Taylor in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 41st overall pick. He began his rookie season behind Marlon Mack, but an injury to Mack quickly moved Taylor into a larger role.

Taylor finished his rookie season with 1,169 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. His strong finish to the season included a 253-yard rushing performance against Jacksonville in Week 17.

The 2021 season became the biggest breakthrough of Taylor’s NFL career. He rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the NFL in both categories. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a unanimous first-team All-Pro. He also won the Bert Bell Award.

Taylor dealt with injuries during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2022, he played 11 games and finished with 861 rushing yards. In 2023, after spending time on the physically unable to perform list, he returned to the Colts and signed a three-year, $42 million contract extension. He finished that season with 741 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Taylor returned to a bigger role in 2024, recording 1,431 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He also earned another Pro Bowl selection.

In 2025, Taylor produced another major season. He rushed for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 378 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns and earned another Pro Bowl selection. His 2025 performance also placed him at No. 17 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026.

Current Club: Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor remains with the Indianapolis Colts in 2026 and continues to play as the team’s running back. His current roster listing shows him as an active player wearing No. 28.

On August 6, 2026, the Colts signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million contract extension, including $39 million guaranteed. The deal kept Taylor in Indianapolis and made him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL at that time.

Through Week 2 of the 2026 season, Taylor had recorded 190 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 43 carries, along with 63 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. His career NFL totals at that point stood at 7,788 rushing yards, 73 rushing touchdowns, 1,532 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.

Taylor’s path from a record-setting high school runner in New Jersey to a major NFL running back has been built around speed, power and consistent production. In 2026, he remains a central part of the Indianapolis Colts’ offense.

Career Statistics

Player Honours & Awards

Jonathan Taylor Playing Style

Position: Running Back (RB)
Jersey: No. 28
Team: Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor is a powerful running back who combines speed, strength, vision, and quick acceleration. His style is built around finding running lanes, using his blockers, and turning open space into big plays. The Colts have also used him as a receiving option, giving him value beyond the running game.

Strengths

• Power: Taylor can run through contact and keep moving after taking hits.
• Speed: His 4.39-second 40-yard dash from the NFL Combine shows the burst that allows him to break away on long runs.
• Vision: He has a strong feel for running lanes and can spot cutback opportunities.
• Acceleration: When he finds an opening, Taylor can quickly get into open space.
• Balance: He can stay on his feet through arm tackles and contact.
• Big-play ability: His NFL career includes multiple long rushing plays, including an 83-yard run.
• Receiving: Taylor can also contribute as a pass catcher. In 2025, he recorded 46 receptions for 378 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Playing Role

Taylor’s main job is to carry the Colts’ rushing attack. He can be used on regular running plays, short-yardage situations and near the goal line. His ability to create long runs also gives the Colts a way to turn a normal rushing play into a big gain.

His production in 2025 showed that role clearly. Taylor finished that season with 1,585 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, while also adding 378 receiving yards.

Key Abilities

Taylor’s biggest strengths come from the combination of power and speed. He can run with force between the tackles, but he also has the acceleration to attack the outside and turn a gap into a long gain. His patience behind blockers and ability to make a quick cut make him difficult for defenders to handle in space.

In the 2026 season, Taylor remains an active No. 28 running back for the Colts. Through three games, he has recorded 258 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with 67 receiving yards.

Role With the Indianapolis Colts

For the Colts, Taylor is a central part of the offense. His role is not limited to simply gaining yards on the ground. He can carry a heavy workload, score from the red zone, create explosive runs and contribute through the passing game. His 2025 season included 323 rushing attempts, showing how much responsibility he can handle in the Colts’ offense.

Jonathan Taylor Major Career Moments

Jonathan Taylor’s career has included several important moments, from his first NFL season to becoming one of the Indianapolis Colts’ top offensive players.

First Professional Game

Taylor made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 of the 2020 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded nine rushing attempts for 22 yards and added six catches for 67 receiving yards.

After starting the season behind Marlon Mack, Taylor moved into the starting role after Mack suffered an Achilles injury. Taylor finished his rookie season with 1,169 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

First Major NFL Award

Taylor earned his first major NFL honors after his 2021 season. He was named a First-Team All-Pro, selected to the Pro Bowl, and won the Bert Bell Award.

That season became the biggest breakthrough of his early NFL career. Taylor led the league with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Breakout Season

The 2021 season was Taylor’s clear NFL breakout year. He started all 17 games and became the NFL rushing yards leader and rushing touchdowns leader.

He also became the first Colts player to reach 1,800 rushing yards in a season. His 20 total touchdowns helped make him one of the league’s most productive offensive players that year.

Major Playoff Performance

Taylor’s NFL postseason experience came during the 2020 playoffs, when the Colts faced the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. He rushed for 78 yards on 20 carries and added one reception for six yards.

Although the Colts did not advance, the game marked Taylor’s first NFL playoff appearance.

Career Milestone

One of Taylor’s biggest career milestones came during the 2025 season. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, Germany, he rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns. He also reached his 65th career rushing touchdown, passing Edgerrin James for the Colts’ franchise record at that time.

Taylor finished 2025 with 1,585 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He also earned another Pro Bowl selection.

In August 2026, the Colts signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million contract extension, with $39 million guaranteed. The new deal kept him in Indianapolis as one of the key pieces of the Colts offense.

Jonathan Taylor Current Team & 2026 Season

Jonathan Taylor remains an active member of the Indianapolis Colts during the 2026 NFL season. He continues to play a major role in the team’s rushing attack and wears No. 28.

2026 Season

Taylor entered the 2026 season as the Colts’ starting running back. His main role is to lead the rushing game, handle important carries and provide another option in the passing game.

Through Week 2 of the 2026 season, Jonathan Taylor has played two games and made two starts. He has recorded 43 carries for 190 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He has also added seven receptions for 63 receiving yards.

Current Team

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor has been with the Colts since they selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has remained one of the team’s most important offensive players throughout his NFL career.

Current Position

Running Back (RB)

Jonathan Taylor’s primary responsibility is to move the ball on the ground. He can also contribute as a receiver when the Colts use him in the passing game.

Current Jersey Number

No. 28

Jonathan Taylor has worn No. 28 with the Colts throughout his NFL career.

2026 Statistics

Recent Achievements

Taylor finished the 2025 season with 1,585 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and earned another Pro Bowl selection.

In August 2026, the Colts signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million contract extension, including $39 million guaranteed. The deal continues his future with Indianapolis.

Current Role

Jonathan Taylor is a key part of the Colts offense. The team can use him for regular rushing plays, short-yardage situations, goal-line carries and passing situations. His combination of power and speed also gives Indianapolis a threat to make big plays whenever he finds open space.

As the 2026 season continues, his statistics and role can be updated after each major stretch of the season.

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