The likelihood of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson breaking the Colts single-season rushing records for RBs and QBs in 2024

The Indianapolis Colts 2024 Training Camp is right around the corner, with players set to report on June 24.

Before the 2024 season begins, I want to look at the Colts franchise single-season records. And share how likely it is that each could be broken this year. This series will be broken up into four parts as we will cover the Colts' single-season leaders for passing, rushing, receiving, and defensive statistics.

Part two of this series will focus on the team's single-season rushing stats, which Jonathan Taylor will look to surpass in 2024. Records he just so happens to be the team's record holder already.

Colts single-season rushing records

Below, I will list each single-season rushing record in the Colts franchise's history. Next, I will share my thoughts on how likely it is to be broken in 2024 using labels highly unlikely, unlikely, likely, and highly likely.

Rushing Yards & TDs (RB)
Jonathan Taylor 2021: 1,811 yards, 18 Touchdowns

Chance to be broken in 2024: Unlikely

This article will be the only instance where the current Colts player is chasing himself for the team's single-season records at his position. Jonathan Tayor set the Colts single-season rushing yards and touchdowns record in 2021 with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Since setting that franchise record in 2021, Taylor has struggled with multiple injuries, which has led to him not even coming close to his career highs set in 2021. In fact, if you combined his last two season's rushing total, it would still be less than his 1,811 yards in 2021.

The last we saw Taylor in the team's Week 18 loss, he looked back to his dominant self. He rushed for 188 yards on 30 attempts and a touchdown. Seeing him do this moves this to unlikely instead of highly unlikely. But I think having a mobile QB like Anthony Richardson will cut into his yard total, and he will likely see multiple goal-line touchdown opportunities stolen as a result. I still think he will surpass 1,000 yards this season, but it's hard to see him coming close to his incredible 2021 season at the moment.

Rushing Yards (QB)
Mike Pagel 1983: 441 yards

Chance to be broken in 2024: Highly likely

Mike Pagel set the Colts' single-season rushing record by a QB over 40 years ago in 1983 with 441 yards. And I think this is a record that Richaron will easily break if he stays healthy. Last year, Anthony Richardson only appeared in four games, and more specifically, he only played 12 quarters and recorded 136 rushing yards. If you give him an entire season, I think he's such a dynamic runner at the QB position that he could potentially pass the 1,000-yard mark. If I had to guess right now, I'd say if Richardson stays healthy, he surpasses Pagel's 441 yards by Week 10.

Rushing Touchdowns (QB)
Andrew Luck: 5 touchdowns

Chance to be broken in 2024: Highly likely

The Colts single-season rushing touchdowns record by a QB was set by Andrew Luck during his rookie season in 2012 with five. Again, I think this is a record that Richardson will break with ease if he stays healthy. He came close in 2023 despite only appearing in four games, with him recording four rushing touchdowns. His ability in the goal line as a rusher will likely lead to him stacking up rushing touchdowns easily during his career. And with him having an elite RB like Taylor as his partner in the backfield, defenses are going to struggle to stop them in that area of the field. I said above that I expect Richardson to break the team's single-season rushing yards by a QB record by Week 10 if he stays healthy; I think he will break the team's rushing touchdowns by a QB record before the halfway point of the season.