5 Best Running Backs in Colts History

Speaking of players who thrived elsewhere, some forget that before Faulk was Offensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years, and the center of the “Greatest Show on Turf” in St. Louis, he was a newly minted NFLer with the Colts, who drafted him No. 2 overall in 1994 out of SDSU.

Faulk made the Pro Bowl in three of his five seasons in Indianapolis, including winning Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns while tallying 522 receiving yards.

If Faulk doesn’t serve as a “what could’ve been” pick on this list, it’s hard to say what does. Traded to the Rams for a second and fifth round pick after running up over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 1998, Faulk did clear the way for the No. 1 pick on this list, but only as Colts fans had to watch him dominate just two states away.

3. Lenny Moore (1956-1967)

Moore can certainly be argued to be No. 2 on this list, but as the game of football matured, toughened, and sped up, Moore’s incredible dual-threat achievements became the stuff of football legend.

Still, it would do Moore a disservice to not acknowledge the versatility in his game; Moore often lined up as a flanker or slot receiver, and as a result, stands as the only player in NFL history with 40+ rushing touchdowns and 40+ receiving touchdowns.

In fact, he well exceeded those figures, scoring 113 total touchdowns for the then-Baltimore Colts.

Moore’s 5,174 yards were at that time unheard of, but have since dropped to sixth, and many of his numbers came with unmatched franchise longevity, as his entire 12-year career was spent in Baltimore, where he won two championships.

2. Jonathan Taylor (2020-Present)

The Colts’ ultimate modern workhorse, Taylor’s draft position at No. 41 in the 2020 NFL draft now seems like a solid steal.

While Taylor has experienced his fair share of injuries, including several to his ankles and a torn ligament in his thumb, when he’s healthy, he’s a premier running back in the NFL.

After his All-Pro 2021 season, where he rushed for 1,811 yards and recorded nearly 2,200 scrimmage yards, his numbers took a dip in 2022 and 2023.

Any questions over Taylor’s Colts legacy seem to have quieted after back-to-back impressive campaigns, including a 2025 season where he flirted with 2,000 scrimmage yards once again and started all 17 games for the second time in his career.

In six seasons, Taylor has amassed the second-most rushing yards in franchise history (7,598) and most rushing touchdowns (69). With a few more solid seasons, it’s not out of the question that Taylor could challenge the previously inarguable top Colts running back for the crown.

1. Edgerrin James (1999-2005)

James is all over the Colts’ leaderboard for rushing stats, standing at No. 1 for rushing yards (9,226) and retired having beaten out Moore for the most rushing touchdowns (64) by a Colt.

While in Indianapolis, James produced a few incredible season tandems, including his first two seasons, where he twice tallied over 2,000 scrimmage yards and averaged more than a touchdown per game, finding the end zone 17 and 18 times, respectively.

The back end of his Colts tenure saw James replicate the greatness of his first two seasons, as he seemingly channeled his frustration over the Colts’ 2003 AFC Championship loss to the Patriots into two of his finest years as a pro, again tallying over 1,500 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons and making consecutive Pro Bowls.

While James’ arrival followed Faulk’s heartbreaking departure, he sure made up for it with an incredible Colts career.

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