taylor signs extension

[Oldcolt]

JT signed a two year 44 million (39 guaranteed) extension. Little more than i would have liked but reasonable and only 2 years so the next GM can make their own decisions.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


Jonathan Taylor Agrees to a 2-Year Extension With the Colts

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...act-extension/



Jonathan Taylor said that he wanted to be an Indianapolis “Colt for life.” Now the star running back is one step closer to turning that dream into reality. Taylor agreed to a 2-year, $44 million contract extension on Thursday with the Colts, according to league sources who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The deal is potentially worth up to $47 Million and includes $39 Million guaranteed. Taylor will now be under contract with the team through the 2028 season.

Taylor was entering the final year of a 3-year, $42 Million contract extension that he inked in October of 2023. That lucrative deal came after a public and sometimes bitter back-and-forth between Taylor and his agent, Malki Kawa, and late Colts owner Jim Irsay. Taylor and Irsay even exchanged verbal jabs via social media before Taylor landed a new deal. This time around, the negotiations went a lot smoother, as the 2020 2nd-round pick participated in training camp and was rewarded with a 3rd contract from the team that drafted him, which is an increasing rarity for running backs.

The new deal puts Taylor at $22 Million in terms of average annual salary, second among running backs. He trails only the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson ($22.25 Million.)

Robinson agreed to a 3-year, $66.8 Million deal on Tuesday. Taylor was notified of Robinson’s contract after practice, and while he said that he was thrilled for another running back to get paid, he also acknowledged his own negotiations.

“I've got to go talk to my agent, too,” Taylor said onTuesday “ …... I have faith, so I’m going to tap in and check in with him, now that you guys broke the news to me.”

2 days later, Taylor was rewarded with a new contract. The agreement is not a surprise, since Colts principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and GM Chris Ballard have praised Taylor this off-season. Both referred to him as a franchise pillar.

“I would definitely love to be a Colt for life. I think that I’ve already expressed that to them throughout the years,” Taylor said during minicamp in June …... hopefully they feel the same way because this is a special place. Not every building is like this, and I’ve heard some stories now, especially from guys coming from other places ...... it’s not like this elsewhere.”

The 27 year-old Taylor is coming off an impressive 2025 campaign that at one point had him in the league MVP conversation ...... he appeared in every game while registering 1,585 rushing yards, his most in a season since earning a 1st-team All-Pro nod in 2021. Additionally, Taylor’s league-leading 20 total TD's (18 rushing and 2 receiving) last year are tied with Hall-of-Famer Lenny Moore for the most in a single-season in Colts franchise history, which spans 73 seasons from 1953 through the Present. Taylor is the only Colts player to reach that threshold twice (2021 and 2025.)

Taylor’s new deal confirms that the Colts view him as a part of their long-term future, even if the man who brought him to Indianapolis may not be around. Ballard is entering the final year of his contract, and it’s fair to consider that if Indianapolis misses the playoffs for a 6th straight season, Ballard could be relieved of his duties.

Ballard traded up 3 spots to select Taylor with the No. 41 pick in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Wisconsin standout has had some durability issues throughout his pro career, missing at least 3 games in each of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. Despite those absences, Taylor has still emerged as one of the league’s premier running backs.

Taylor’s career average of 90.5 rushing yards per game is the most among active players, and ranks 5th all-time behind Hall-of-Famers Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and Eric Dickerson, respectively. Taylor, a 3-time Pro Bowler, ranks 1st in Colts history with 69 rushing TDs. His 7,598 rushing yards are 2nd in franchise history, with only to Hall-of-Famer Edgerrin James (9,226) having more.

o

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Big Q contract extension next?

[Hoopsdoc]

Hard to believe JT is only 27 years old. Seems like he’s been around forever.

That said, this extension had to be done. I think without JT, this is a bad team. I think he’s without question our best player.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSunnyinIndy

Big Q contract extension next?

Save the best for last

[Colts And Orioles]

o


With Derrick Harmon Out, the Steelers' Defense Is Key Against Jonathan Taylor

(By Jeff Hathhorn)

https://www.audacy.com/937thefan/spo...onathan-taylor



PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was brought up in a question this week that the numbers were almost comical, why not necessarily funny. This season, starting Sunday against one of the best running backs in the NFL, how does the Steelers' defense overcome the loss of Derrick Harmon ???

Last season when Harmon played, the defense allowed 88 rushing yards-per-game ...... when he didn’t play, it was 166 rushing yards-per-game. Add to the fact that Harmon was coming into his own, Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said that he was becoming an impact player in the league.

“It’s tough, I thought Derrick was playing very good,” said Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. “It gives a chance for a lot of other guys to step up. We all have to play a part in getting better.”

“Derrick is a hell of a player,” said first-year Steelers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. “He’s an amazing 2nd-year player.”

Joseph-Day will play a part in trying to make up for the loss of Harmon ...... after playing only 60 defensive snaps so far this season, he’ll need to do more.

“I'm here to do my job in whatever way, shape, or form that is,” Joseph-Day said. “I’m ready to step up and do what I got to do to help this team wins.”

Nose tackle Yahya Black is coming off a season-high 5 tackles against the Browns after 4 against the Bengals ...... his opportunities will rise.

Keeanu Benton signed a 4-year, $72 Million contract in the offseason, but hasn’t played at that level yet ...... here is an opportunity for him to play a big part against a big-time back.

“The D-line, the run game falls on us,” Benton said. “We've got to dominate up front to stop that.”

Rookies Gabriel Rubio or Kevin Jobity could be active for the first time, and take a couple of reps.

Last year, after running for 5 touchdowns combined in the previous 2 weeks, Colts tailback Jonathan Taylor managed only 45 yards on 14 carries at Acrisure Stadium for an, at the time, season-low 3.2 average.

“I think that everyone did their job,” Benton said of that performance. “We didn’t try to do too much. We stayed patient in our gaps, and made the ball come to us rather than trying to go make a big play.”

Patient is a key word because reminiscent of Le’Veon Bell, Taylor runs will wait for a hole to open and then make you pay.

“A really good back, elite, top-5,” Joseph-Day said. “His patience, his vision ...... and when he does find the hole, his acceleration is insane.”

“It changes how the D-line is played. You can be aggressive, but you can’t just declare your gap and where you are going to be because he can cut it, he can fake cut it, he could go this way and actually hit your gap. You've got to be really patient in that regard. That’s what makes him so dangerous, he’s a really talented back.”

“We got to trust our gaps, stay patient,” Heyward said. “We don’t need hero ball, that’s the worst thing we can do, everybody playing out of position. The best thing that we can do is play with good technique, get off of blocks, and make sure that your presence is felt ...... play like a defensive lineman that can get away with being violent.”

“It’s one of those weeks where you have to get all 11 hats to the ball,” Watt said, also noting that he played at Wisconsin like Watt. “You really can’t swim out of your gap early ...... even when you are on the edge, you can’t go to help as early like you would with other backs because he can really jump-cut and find the edge.”

“We are going to need to contain him,” said linebacker Nick Herbig. “He’s a home run hitter. He gets vertical very quickly. He’s got that speed, he’s a Badger, he’s got that dawg in him.”

“We've got to stop the run,” Heyward said. “I know that it sounds very monotonous and very boring, and I know that we are in a league that really stresses passing the ball, but the key is really stopping the run with this team.”

After giving up 54 points in the last 2 games combined, the Steelers defense needs a change ...... it starts with one of the most dangerous players in the game.

o