Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is entering the second year of a three-year, $42 million extension and looking to take his team back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.
Taylor sat down with PFSN’s David Bearman in New Orleans to discuss his team, advice he would give to young players, and who will win the Super Bowl.
Jonathan Taylor Discusses 2024 Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl Pick and More
My 1:1 with Colts RB Jonathan Taylor at Radio Row pic.twitter.com/V66e7d0zd9
— David Bearman (@DavidBearmanPFN) February 6, 2025
So I want to talk about this last season. You guys got close to the playoffs, you know the AFC was kind of runway for a few teams. The Colts battled the Broncos, the Chargers and the Dolphins, talk to me about the season, what went right? What went wrong?
Jonathan Taylor: “Definitely a lot of ups and downs this season, just like any season. But for us, whenever you just don’t meet that goal, and you think about all of the work you’ve done in the off-season, during training camp, throughout the season, you know, guys going down, getting guys back, it sucks.
“But one thing we do know is that throughout that entire season, every single game, we fought. We fought to the very end. And you don’t want that taste in your mouth of just going home and watching guys on TV in January and then going into February.
“So I know we’ll use that fuel this off-season to get better individually and then come together next season in order to make some special happenings.”
I got to ask you about your boy, cause he’s my boy too. I went to the University of Florida. Talk about Anthony Richardson, what he’s meant to that team and what you see in the future out of him.
Jonathan Taylor: “Number one is when he’s on the field, you get a sense of no one can stop us. When you look at the physical traits that he has, but then also the things that the fans don’t necessarily see that we see in the building, is he’s in his playbook. He’s watching film. So you know he has the work ethic.
“You know he’s putting the work in. And when that all comes together for a young player with the type of talent he has, he’s going to be a very, very special player in this league. And he’s going to lead this team to do great things. And we’re behind him 100 percent. So I’m super excited for the season coming up.”
We all know last year there were contract issues, nobody was getting paid and nobody wanted to trade for running backs or draft running backs. We see what Saquon’s done, what Henry’s done. Talk about what might be “the return of the running back.”
Jonathan Taylor: “I think that this year, a lot of the guys played very well at a high level. You mentioned Saquon (Barkley), you mentioned Derrick (Henry), Josh Jacobs. A lot of guys played at a high level and also showed that the running back position is very valuable. If you look at Philly, they’ve been running the ball extremely well.
“They’re in the Super Bowl. Not a surprise. And I just think that we’re going to continue to disprove that narrative that the running backs are undervalued, running backs don’t matter.
“And to next season, some of these younger guys coming up, (Jahmyr) Gibbs, Bijan (Robinson), those guys are also going to help push that as well because some seriously talented running backs are coming up.”
You were at the front of it last year. You held out for a little bit, eventually got the contract you wanted. What would you tell those guys coming up? What advice would you give them with the way the contracts are in the NFL?
Jonathan Taylor: “Number one, your best and greatest asset is always going to be playing well on the field at a high level. If you do that, that’s the ultimate leverage. You putting great tape, elite tape on the field.”
What else do you want to tell the fans about what the Indianapolis Colts are going to do next year?
Jonathan Taylor: “Number one, we’re going to come out firing the Indianapolis Colts. We’re going to fight to the very last quarter, but we’re going to come together and we’re going to make it happen. We’re going to make it happen, but it starts now in the offseason, individually, before guys come together as a team and put together all their new talents and skills that they’ve acquired throughout the offseason. So it’s going to be special.”
Who is going to win the Super Bowl on Sunday?
Jonathan Taylor: “Philadelphia is definitely talented enough. When you’re playing a well-coached Chiefs team with arguably the best player in the NFL, you kind of got to play a perfect game and then some. You got to capitalize on whatever mistakes that the Chiefs make. But then also, my guy Zack Baun, fellow Wisconsin. I just want them to go and get the win.
“I’d be super happy for Zack. Also, for Saquon, fellow running back. But for my guy Zack Baun, I’m really hoping that they pull out on top.”
You saw the end of the Brady run. You’re in the middle of the Mahomes run. If Mahomes win another, is he there yet?
Jonathan Taylor: “At the end of the day, if he does end up completing this, he’s the closest thing in the probably next 20 years, I’d say, that we’ll probably see towards Brady. The type of start he’s off to is incredible. But like I said, hopefully my guy Zack Baun gets a pick here or there and shuts it down.”
