Jonathan Taylor Says He Hasn't Asked for a Trade Out of Indianapolis, but the 2-5 Colts Have Until Nov. 10 to Decide Whether to Keep Him

Jonathan Taylor wants to stay a Colt, but a reluctant owner, a contract through 2028 and a 30% ESPN trade chance all shape what Indianapolis does next.

by Neal Coolong

Oct 30, 2026

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28)

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said Thursday he hasn’t requested a trade and still wants to be in Indianapolis, but the sell-off that started this week leaves his future with a front office that has until the Nov. 10 deadline to decide whether its best player is worth more on the roster or on the trade market.

“I haven’t heard anything, and I can’t control that,” Taylor told reporters, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “Obviously, you guys know that I’m always proud to wear the horseshoe, proud to be here.”

Jonathan Taylor Says He Wants to Stay as the Colts’ Trade Deadline Nears

Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) reacts with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Taylor didn’t pretend the decision was his. “You know that the day always comes,” he said. “Whether you like it or not, the day may come.” He said he talked with principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon this week, and coach Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday that Taylor hasn’t asked out, The Athletic’s James Boyd noted.

That’s a long way from 2023, when Taylor requested a trade during a contract standoff with late owner Jim Irsay before settling on a three-year, $42 million extension.

Plenty has changed around the West 56th Street complex in the 11 days since Chris Ballard was fired. Interim general manager Ed Dodds sent Quenton Nelson to Seattle on Tuesday and DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco hours later. Receiver Josh Downs requested a trade the next morning. Taylor called his two former teammates “the gold standard of the NFL” and said he wished he could have done more to win for them.

Why Jonathan Taylor’s contract slows any deal

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28)

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Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million extension in August with $39 million guaranteed, and it runs through 2028, according to Over The Cap. Trading him before the deadline would leave about $17.6 million in dead money on the Colts’ 2026 books. Because a buyer gets him for this season and two more, his asking price should start at a second-round pick.

Ownership is its own hurdle. Adam Schefter left Taylor off his list of the next Colts likely to go, and the ESPN insider said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show that his understanding is the owner doesn’t want to trade him.

The interest hasn’t gone anywhere. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen ranked Taylor No. 1 among 25 deadline candidates, gave him a 30% chance to move and listed the Seahawks, Commanders, Saints, Broncos and Vikings as fits. Holder reported several teams have already called Indianapolis about his availability. Taylor sits atop our Colts trade rumors tracker for a reason.

Taylor’s next chance to make a case comes in Jacksonville

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 20, 2026.

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Through seven games, Taylor has 140 carries for 587 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with eight rushing touchdowns, plus 17 catches for 178 yards. His 65.3 overall PFF grade ranks 24th among 42 running backs, and his 4.2 yards per carry is down from 4.9 during last season’s 1,585-yard, 18-touchdown year.

He’s still the engine. Our analytics breakdown found Taylor is nearly all of the Colts’ edge against Jacksonville on Sunday, and he’ll get the 4-2 Jaguars coming off their bye, with linebackers Foyesade Oluokun (42 tackles) and Ventrell Miller (39) leading the stops. Indianapolis hasn’t won at EverBank Stadium since 2014.

“Backs are against the wall,” Taylor said, according to WISH-TV. “This is not a lost cause.”

The draft math gives the front office little reason to wait. Every Colts loss feeds the Jets, who own Indianapolis’ 2027 first-round pick, so there’s no draft position to protect by losing. A fourth straight loss would make selling high an easier pitch inside the building before Nov. 10. A win in Jacksonville gives ownership one more reason to keep Taylor exactly where he says he wants to be.