Salem native named ‘best running back in the NFL’


Former Salem High School running back Johnathan Taylor is having a career year in the NFL.

Taylor recorded a career-high and franchise-record 286 scrimmage yards (244 rushing, 42 receiving) and three rushing touchdowns in the Colts’ 31-25 overtime win over Atlanta in Berlin, the most scrimmage yards and most rushing yards ever in an international game.

With three rushing touchdowns in Weeks 3, 5, 7 and 10, Taylor is the only player in NFL history to record four games with at least three rushing touchdowns in the first 10 weeks of a season. 

This is the sixth-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Taylor, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James (six) for the most-ever by a Colts running back:

  • 2021: Week 11
  • 2022: Week 10
  • 2024: Week 16
  • 2025: Weeks 2, 3, 10

Taylor has the fourth-most Player of the Week awards by a former Wisconsin Badger, trailing quarterback Russell Wilson (11-time winner), linebacker T.J. Watt (eight-time winner) and defensive lineman J.J. Watt (seven-time winner).

Not only that, but Taylor tops the NFL with 1,139 rushing yards on 189 carries and 15 rushing touchdowns – both category leads that have him on pace for a career year.

He’s also the leading candidate for the full-season Offensive Player of the Year award, with analysts calling him the best running back in football and a Hall of Fame trajectory player.

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