In Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Warren recorded his first career receiving touchdown. It was an 11-yard pass from Jones during the second quarter of the 40-6 victory. That could be the first of many times that Jones and Warren team up for touchdowns with the Colts.
Both players arrived in Indianapolis this past offseason. Jones signed as a free agent to compete with fellow quarterback Anthony Richardson. Meanwhile, the Colts drafted Warren, a tight end out of Penn State, in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’ll be interesting to see what they’ll accomplish together in Indy.
Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones and Tyler Warren Could Become the NFL’s Next Great Quarterback-Tight End Duo
Greatest QB-TE Duos in NFL History
There have been several prolific quarterback-tight end combos over the years. Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates are a perfect example. Rivers was the last quarterback to lead the Colts to the playoffs (2020). But before that, he teamed up with Gates on the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.
Rivers and Gates spent 15 years together. The duo combined for 774 catches for 9,543 yards and 95 touchdowns. They also made the playoffs six times and reached the AFC Championship Game once.
And don’t forget about Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, who played together with both the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They combined for 620 catches, 9,275 yards, and 93 touchdowns in 12 seasons. In addition, the pair made six Super Bowl appearances, winning four.
It would be foolish not to mention Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs). The duo is currently in their ninth season as teammates. They are one of the most dominant quarterback-tight end pairings of all time, winning three of their five Super Bowl appearances.
Other legendary QB-TE combos include the likes of Peyton Manning-Dallas Clark (Colts), Dan Fouts-Kellen Winslow (Chargers), and John Elway-Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos).
Will It Happen?
Daniel Jones wasn’t expected to win the Colts’ starting quarterback job. He was supposed to just light a fire under Anthony Richardson. However, Jones emerged as QB1 and is playing like an MVP this season. He’s leading the NFL in QBR (79.7) and has passed for 1,290 yards (third-most in the league).
Meanwhile, Tyler Warren has blossomed into a star. The rookie phenom is leading all NFL tight ends with 307 receiving yards. The Colts lacked a playmaking tight end last year, and drafting Warren has turned out to be the answer.
With players like Jones and Warren leading the way, the Colts are off to a red-hot 4-1 start. They’re having an unbelievable season so far and just might be Super Bowl contenders.
Yes, Jones and Warren could become the league’s next great quarterback-tight end duo if everything goes right. Don’t expect them to win multiple Super Bowls together like Brady-Gronkowski and Mahomes-Kelce. But they could certainly have a bright future in Indianapolis if they continue to play elite football.
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