Jonathan Taylor has played for only one NFL team: the Indianapolis Colts. But with the franchise entering a rebuilding phase, the star running back’s long-term future in Indianapolis is uncertain.
The Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard after a home loss to the Tennessee Titans. The team has also made several significant roster moves, trading guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs.
Taylor was expected to be among the players who could move before the NFL trade deadline. The Colts ultimately kept him, but that decision does not necessarily settle his future. Indianapolis could consider trading him in the offseason as it looks to add draft picks and continue rebuilding. On the other hand, Taylor could remain with the team and spend the rest of his career in Indiana.
## Jonathan Taylor’s NFL Career So Far
The Colts selected Taylor in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, with the 41st overall pick. He made an immediate impression, starting 13 games as a rookie and rushing for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Taylor’s best season came in 2021. He led the NFL with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl selection, and finished second in voting for Offensive Player of the Year.
Injuries limited his availability over the next three seasons, during which he missed a total of 16 games. Taylor returned to a full schedule in 2025, playing all 17 games and rushing for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns.
This season, Taylor has recorded 656 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 161 carries. He has also contributed as a receiver, catching 26 passes for 220 yards.
Those numbers reflect his value to the Colts, even as the team weighs its roster and draft-pick needs. A player of Taylor’s caliber can be an important part of a rebuilding team, but a trade could also bring Indianapolis additional assets for the future.
## Running Backs Who Spent Their Careers with One Team
It is uncommon for a star running back to spend an entire NFL career with one franchise. Walter Payton and Barry Sanders are among the best-known examples of players who did.
Payton played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 through 1987. Widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, he helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX, earned an NFL MVP award, made nine Pro Bowls, and was named First-Team All-Pro five times. He also held the NFL’s career rushing record until Emmitt Smith surpassed it.
Sanders played for the Detroit Lions from 1989 to 1998. The former Heisman Trophy winner earned an MVP award, led the league in rushing four times, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons.
Taylor has established himself as a major star, but matching the one-team careers of Payton or Sanders would be unusual. Many accomplished running backs have finished their careers somewhere other than the franchise where they first made their mark.
Smith, for example, spent 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before ending his career with the Arizona Cardinals. More recently, Derrick Henry joined the Baltimore Ravens after playing his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
## What Could Happen Next?
Ballard faced criticism during his time in Indianapolis for some decisions and opportunities he did not pursue. The article’s assessment of his tenure is mixed: the Colts did make moves that drew questions, including trading two first-round picks for cornerback Sauce Gardner, but the team also benefited from selecting Taylor.
Trading up to draft Taylor may have been one of Ballard’s most valuable decisions. The Colts went through difficult seasons during Ballard’s tenure, and Taylor’s production gave the team a high-level player at a position that can change the course of a game.
Still, keeping Taylor beyond the trade deadline does not guarantee that he will remain a Colt for the rest of his career. Running backs often move between teams, and the Colts’ rebuilding plans may lead them to consider offers when the offseason brings a new opportunity to add draft picks. A permanent general manager could also shape the team’s approach once one is in place.
For now, Taylor remains in Indianapolis. Whether he stays there for the long term is an open question. An offseason trade appears possible, particularly if the Colts decide that future draft capital is more valuable to their rebuilding effort. But until the team makes that decision, Taylor’s future with the franchise remains uncertain.
