Colts All-Professional LB Zaire Franklin confirms that rookie TE Tyler Warren by no means requested for jersey quantity

On ‘Up & Adams’ with host Kay Adams, Indianapolis Colts beginning linebacker Zaire Franklin confirmed that first spherical rookie Tyler Warren by no means requested him if he’d relinquish #44, which was the prior jersey quantity the prized Penn State tight finish beforehand donned at Pleased Valley:

Warren was not too long ago chosen by Indy with the 14th total choose of the 2025 NFL Draft.

In fact, many Colts followers have been initially hoping that Warren would put on #44, which was additionally the variety of one other former All-Massive Ten tight finish and first spherical choose, Dallas Clark, who was a Tremendous Bowl Champion, Professional Bowler, and would finally be part of the franchise’s Ring of Honor after his extremely productive enjoying profession in Indianapolis.

For Warren, he wore the jersey quantity collegiately to honor former Washington fullback nice (and Tremendous Bowl MVP) John Riggins, the NFL All-Professional who Warren’s father inspired him to emulate concerning his notoriously bodily working fashion on the professional degree.

To his credit score, Warren by no means requested Franklin, a reigning NFL 2nd-Staff All-Professional and crew captain for the Colts, as a result of the highest rookie didn’t assume he has earned that proper but:

“He’s a captain,” Warren stated through The Athletic’s James Boyd in the course of the crew’s current minicamp. “I don’t actually have a spot to attempt to ask for his quantity.”

That’s one thing that actually resonated with Franklin, who was a former 2018 seventh spherical choose and the final rookie chosen by the Colts in his draft class, and was subsequently assigned #97—which for sure, is ugly aesthetics for an off-the-ball linebacker nowadays.

From that standpoint, the rookie Warren earned the veteran linebacker’s preliminary respect.

All isn’t for naught although, because the #84 jersey that Warren will now put on in his debut 12 months with the Colts is similar quantity as one other former Professional Bowl tight finish (and apparent fan favourite), Jack Doyle, who did a number of the identical ‘soiled work’ that the rookie has already been regarded for getting into the league.