INDIANAPOLIS — Tyler Warren’s beloved No. 44 is already in the hands of Colts middle linebacker Zaire Franklin.
The number Indianapolis has issued their first-round pick initially has its own history at the tight end position.
Warren is wearing No. 84, a number that has recent history for the tight end position in Indianapolis. Jack Doyle, the last game-changing player the Colts had at the position, wore No. 84.
“I picked it,” Warren said. “It was one of the numbers I could have picked.”
Unlike 44, the number 84 does not have any special significance for Warren.
“I just think it’s a good number, and I liked it,” Warren said. “It wasn’t, honestly, too deep of a decision, that’s the one I liked out of the options.”
Warren’s reason for wearing No. 44 was deep. When the rookie Colts tight end started playing football at the age of eight, his father pulled him over to his computer, fired up YouTube and showed Warren a string of highlights of Washington legend John Riggins to show his son how he wanted him to play the game.
But the way Warren plays is likely going to bring to mind Doyle, another bruiser willing to do whatever the Colts needed to win.
Numbers for 2025 Colts draft picksDE J.T. Tuimoloau: 91CB Justin Walley: 27OT Jalen Travis: 75RB D.J. Giddens: 21QB Riley Leonard: 15DT Tim Smith: 93S Hunter Wohler: 30
Here is every Indianapolis Colt to wear No. 84 according to pro-football-reference.com:
Kelley Johnson, 1987
Mark Boyer, 1985-89
Jessie Hester, 1990-93
Mark Jackson, 1994
Shannon Baker, 1994
Flipper Anderson, 1995
Scott Slutzker, 1996-97
E.G. Green, 1998-2000
Drew Haddad, 2002
Brad Pyatt, 2003-04
Jacob Tamme, 2008-2011
Jack Doyle, 2013-21
Ethan Fernea, 2022
Albert Okwuegbunam, 2024