Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been looking forward to this week’s game ever since the 2024 schedule was released. With the game almost here, Taylor can barely hide his excitement.
On Thursday, he walked into the locker room with a big smile, bright eyes, and more enthusiasm about this weekend’s road trip than he’s shown in his four-year career.
The reason for his excitement: Taylor, a former Wisconsin Badger, is returning to the state he considers his second home, where he will finally play at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, one of the NFL’s most iconic stadiums.
“I haven’t been to Lambeau for a game yet, so this will be my first time at Lambeau for a game and I’m actually playing in it,” Taylor said with excitement as his long wait is coming to an end. “I’ve been there before, not for a game, but I’ve been there before.”
Taylor is familiar with Lambeau Field’s history because in Wisconsin, it’s hard to avoid.
From Vince Lombardi and the Ice Bowl to Brett Favre and The Minister of Defense to Aaron Rodgers and the “Jump Here” signs inspired by LeRoy Butler’s first Lambeau Leap in 1993, Taylor has heard all about the famous moments and celebrated some of the Packers’ milestones, though from afar.
But the two-hour drive from Wisconsin’s capital city, Madison, to Green Bay has been a challenging journey for the New Jersey prep star.
Wisconsin played its only game at Lambeau in 2016, the year before Taylor arrived at the university. The team was set to return in 2020 when Taylor would have been a senior, but the game was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, long after Taylor had decided to leave school early.
During his time at Wisconsin, Taylor became one of the most prominent Badgers, rushing for over 2,000 yards twice and almost a third time before finishing his career as the No. 2 rusher in program history.
The Colts drafted Jonathan Taylor in the second round that April. When the teams last played in 2020, Taylor ran for 90 yards in a 34-31 win on his new home field. Taylor later won the 2021 NFL rushing title and heads into this weekend with the longest active streak in the league for consecutive games with a touchdown, at seven.
If he makes it eight, he might celebrate with excitement.
“I’ve been waiting for this one, definitely,” Taylor said. “Hoping to get a Lambeau Leap in. Hopefully I don’t get anything poured on me — I’ve seen reports of that.”
Taylor has an idea of what to expect. He thinks it will be very loud and hard to communicate, which will make it tough for the Colts (0-1) to win their first game in Green Bay’s home opener.
Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has spent his entire life in Florida, is also glad the game is in September and not in December or January.
Although few players remain from 2016 when the Colts last visited Green Bay (0-1), Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was there for a Monday night game in October 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers. He remembers it being a special and energetic place to play.
But it’s not just the trip to Lambeau Field that has Taylor excited about visiting Wisconsin this weekend.
On Saturday, the Badgers will host No. 4 Alabama at Camp Randall, one of college football’s most famous stadiums. It will be the Crimson Tide’s first visit to Madison since 1928, and a friendly bet with Pro Bowl center and Alabama alum Ryan Kelly might make the Colts locker room even more lively.
Taylor is looking forward to his return to Wisconsin.
“I can’t wait, can’t wait to be back in the state,” Taylor said. “It’s really going to be fun. Wisconsin should be one heck of a state to be in right now, especially Saturday with the Badgers having Bama coming to town, so it should be pretty lively.”
