Jonathan Taylor Secures Two-Year, $44 Million Extension with the Indianapolis Colts

On August 6, the Indianapolis Colts announced a two-year contract extension for running back Jonathan Taylor. The agreement is valued at $44 million, includes $39 million guaranteed, and can rise to $47 million with incentives, according to Reuters and league reports. The extension adds the 2027 and 2028 seasons to Taylor’s existing deal, keeping the 27-year-old with the franchise through his ninth NFL year.

Sports Illustrated

Taylor entered the final year of a three-year, $42 million extension signed in 2023 after a contentious offseason that featured a trade request and a hold-out. The market for elite running backs shifted this spring: Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson secured a three-year, $66.75 million deal, and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs signed a three-year, $67.5 million pact. Those contracts set new benchmarks that likely influenced Indianapolis’s willingness to meet Taylor’s demands.

NFL Network: Colts, RB Jonathan Taylor agree to terms on two-year, $44 million contract extension

• Contract – $44 million total; $39 million guaranteed; up to $47 million with incentives.

CBS Sports

• AAV – $22 million, making Taylor the second-highest-paid running back behind Robinson.

NBC Sports

• Career production – 7,598 rushing yards (second in Colts history), 69 rushing touchdowns (franchise record), 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, and a league-leading 323 carries.

Bleacher Report

• Durability – Played all 17 games in 2025, accounting for 82 % of the Colts’ rushing attempts over the past two seasons.

ESPN

Colts owner-CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon praised the agreement, noting the desire to keep the team’s “core offensive pieces” together. Head coach Shane Steichen called Taylor “electric” and highlighted his preparation and impact. General manager Chris Ballard reiterated the commitment to retaining top talent, saying contract status would not affect negotiations.

Rapid Reaction: Colts agree to new multi-year contract extension with star RB Jonathan Taylor

• “I'd definitely love to be a Colt for life,” — Jonathan Taylor

Colts sign RB Jonathan Taylor to contract extension

• “It's a commitment not only to myself and my family,” — Jonathan Taylor

Colts players, head coach Shane Steichen react to RB Jonathan Taylor's extension

• “I have faith. I mean, there’ve been some good conversations, and I have faith between my agent and the front office,” — Jonathan Taylor

Colts keep 2021 league rushing champ Jonathan Taylor with 2-year, $44 million deal, AP source says

Both characterizations refer to the same financial terms but differ in ranking methodology. No source provided a definitive league-wide ranking beyond the AAV comparison with Robinson.

NFL Network: Colts, RB Jonathan Taylor agree to terms on two-year, $44 million contract extension

Taylor’s contract underscores the resurgence of high-value deals for the position, a trend that began with earlier contracts for Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey. By securing a top-tier back at a comparable AAV, Indianapolis signals its intent to build around a proven workhorse as it seeks playoff contention. The extension also locks in the centerpiece of the Colts’ offense, providing stability for quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, both of whom received extensions in the same offseason.

Reuters

The deal positions Taylor among the elite earners at his position while preserving the Colts’ salary-cap flexibility, as the guaranteed portion remains manageable relative to the team’s overall payroll. As the running-back market continues to evolve, Taylor’s extension serves as a benchmark for future negotiations involving high-usage backs with proven durability.

Indianapolis Colts sign star RB Jonathan Taylor to 2-year, $44M extension