Aaron Rodgers has more to say on Fauci, ESPN, family and football
Aaron Rodgers sits down with USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell at Steelers training camp to discuss why he stands by his previous comments and what’s ahead for him in the 2026 NFL season.
And then there was one.
The Indianapolis Colts and running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to terms on a two-year, $44 million contract extension, USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon has confirmed. Taylor, 27, was entering a walk year in 2026, but his new deal keeps him under contract in Indianapolis through the 2028 season.
Taylor’s extension comes two days after the Atlanta Falcons agreed to terms on an extension with their own star running back, Bijan Robinson. With both Taylor and Robinson getting their new deals done, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs – who is holding in at training camp – is the last tailback waiting for his pay day.
Unlike Gibbs and Robinson, Taylor had not been holding in at Colts training camp while awaiting a new contract extension. It’s a notable difference from three years ago, when the running back held in and requested a trade before getting his first extension.
“I have faith that things are moving in the right direction,” Taylor told the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY network, last week.
- Term: Two years
- Total value: $44 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $22 million
- Guaranteed money: $39 million
Taylor’s extension makes him the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL by average annual value, behind only Robinson ($22.25 million per year). His guaranteed money at the time of signing is also the third-most ever by a running back. That $39 million figure trails only Robinson’s $51 million in guarantees and the $53 million that rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is guaranteed on his rookie deal as the No. 3 overall pick.
According to NFL Media and ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, Taylor gets a $15 million signing bonus as part of his deal.
In 2023, Taylor missed the first four games of the season while awaiting a contract extension then missed three more games later in the year after needing surgery on his thumb. In the two years since, Taylor has been one of the league’s best running backs.
The Colts’ star rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns on 303 carries in 2024, despite missing three games. His production earned him the second Pro Bowl nod of his career – and first since 2021.
Taylor continued to prove his value in 2025, when he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (18) and finished third in rushing yards (1,585) on a league-leading 323 attempts. Taylor’s average of 4.9 rushing yards per attempt last year was his highest since his All-Pro season in 2021 (5.5).
For the Colts, getting a deal done with Taylor means they’ve locked up three of their most important offensive skill players on multi-year extensions. Earlier this offseason, Indianapolis re-signed pending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones with a two-year, $88 million deal. The same day, the team also officially re-signed pending free agent wide receiver Alec Pierce on a four-year, $112 million contract.
Taylor’s deal is also significant for Gibbs, the Lions’ star running back who became eligible for his rookie extension this offseason. The Alabama product is still holding in at training camp, refusing to participate in on-field drills, while he waits for an extension.
When the offseason began, Gibbs was one of the three star running backs that appeared due for extensions, along with Robinson and Taylor. As of this week, both Robinson and Taylor inked their deals with the Falcons and Colts, respectively. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after news of Robinson’s deal broke on Aug. 4 that it might help speed up Detroit’s negotiations with Gibbs.
Now that Taylor has been paid as well, the pressure has increased for the NFC North hopefuls to reach a deal with their ascendant offensive weapon.
This story has been updated.