Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson Earn 2026 Pro Bowl Nods as Colts’ Lone Representatives
The Pro Bowl rosters are out, and while the Indianapolis Colts might not have flooded the list, they’re sending two players who absolutely earned the trip: running back Jonathan Taylor and left guard Quenton Nelson. No surprises here-these two have been the heartbeat of Indy’s offense all season long.
Let’s start with Taylor, who’s having the kind of year that reminds everyone why he’s one of the league’s premier backs. Through Week 16, he leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (17) and total touchdowns (19), while racking up 1,489 rushing yards-good for second in the league.
And he’s doing it at an efficient clip, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. That’s not just volume; that’s consistent production every time he touches the ball.
This marks Taylor’s third Pro Bowl selection, and it’s well-deserved. He’s been a game-changer all year, and the numbers back it up.
Then there’s Quenton Nelson-what more can you say about a guy who’s now been selected to the Pro Bowl in every season of his eight-year career? That’s elite company.
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only Joe Thomas has matched that feat among offensive linemen, and Thomas ended up in Canton in 2023. Nelson’s on a similar trajectory.
Even as the Colts’ offensive line has dealt with injuries and reshuffling, Nelson has held firm at left guard, anchoring the unit with his trademark physicality and technique. He’s not just one of the best at his position-he might be the most dominant left guard in football, period.
The rest of the Colts roster? No Pro Bowl nods this time around.
But that’s less an indictment of the team’s talent and more a reflection of how Pro Bowl voting often works. It’s no secret that popularity plays a role, and AFC South teams generally don’t get the same national spotlight as some of the league’s bigger markets.
Case in point: the Jacksonville Jaguars are having a strong season-likely AFC South champs when it’s all said and done-but only had one player selected, and it was long snapper Ross Matiscik. That’s not a knock on Matiscik (long snappers rarely get recognized unless they’re excellent), but it does highlight how under-the-radar some of these teams remain.
Elsewhere in the division, the Houston Texans had four Pro Bowlers: cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., wide receiver Nico Collins, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The Tennessee Titans landed two: kick returner Chimere Dike and defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons.
So while the Colts only have two names heading to the Pro Bowl, they’re two of the most deserving players at their positions across the entire league. Taylor is putting together a season that could end with All-Pro honors, and Nelson continues to build a résumé that looks more and more like a Hall of Fame lock.
For now, Colts fans can take pride in knowing that while the Pro Bowl tally might be light, the quality is undeniable. Taylor and Nelson aren’t just Pro Bowlers-they’re cornerstones.