Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor continues to make his case as one of the NFL’s elite playmakers. The league officially named Taylor the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, marking the third time in his career that he has earned the honor.
Previously, Taylor claimed the award in both October and November of 2021, a season in which he led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor’s Dominant Run in October
Taylor’s October performance was nothing short of electric. Across four games, all Colts victories, he recorded 66 carries for 436 rushing yards and scored 10 total touchdowns, nine rushing and one receiving. He also caught 12 passes for 93 yards, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
The records speak for themselves: he has dominated in three of the four games, including against the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans. Taylor found the end zone three times.
He became just the fifth player since 2000 to record four games with three scrimmage touchdowns in a single season, and the first in Colts history with three games of at least three rushing scores.
AFC Players of the Month! (October) pic.twitter.com/jZ9GSu3hmC
— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2025
Taylor’s most explosive moment came in Week 8, when he rushed for a career-long 80-yard touchdown during the Colts’ 38-14 win over the Titans. That performance capped a month in which Taylor led the NFL in both total and rushing touchdowns and in rushing yards and scrimmage yards.
Rising in the Record Books as Steelers Brace for the Challenge against Taylor’s Colts
Taylor’s recent surge has also rewritten parts of the Colts’ record books. He tied Lenny Moore for the second-most rushing touchdowns (63) in franchise history and matched Edgerrin James for the second-most games (six) with at least three scrimmage touchdowns. He also surpassed Raymond Berry for fifth-most total touchdowns in team history and now sits just one rushing score shy of James’ franchise record (61).
The Colts now prepare for a Week 9 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose defense knows what’s coming. Defensive lineman Cam Heyward acknowledged the challenge that Taylor poses ahead, telling ESPN, “He requires everybody’s focus. He is lighting people up; he is bouncing off blocks. His contact balance doesn’t get talked about enough, and so we got to have multiple guys to the ball.”
Taylor’s contributions have been crucial to the Colts’ 7-1 start, their best record through eight games since 2009. According to PFSN’s Offensive Impact Index (OFFi), Indianapolis boasts a league-best 97.7 offensive impact rating and ranks No. 1 in yards per play (6.5) and points per drive (3.46). The Colts also sit top-three in third-down conversion rate (50%), turnover percentage (5.3%), and sack rate (3.5%), underscoring how efficiently Taylor’s presence elevates the entire offense.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin echoed the sentiment in a recent press conference, warning his team about Taylor’s explosive potential: “He’s significant. Taylor’s got great stop/start ability. Got great short area burst, and vision. He’s got the long speed to finish plays, as evidenced by the 80-yarder that he had last week. But he’s always been explosion-play capable. When you play a guy like that, man, it’s really an all-day job. Because of that home run-hitting ability, we’ve got to do a really good job of setting the edges and certainly being in the appropriate gaps.”
Taylor’s October dominance has not only thrust him into the MVP conversation but also helped solidify the Colts as a legitimate contender in the AFC.
