Tyler Warren began his NFL rookie season with one primary goal: do his job.
The tight end wasn't focused on targets, touchdowns or any other individual stats. He wasn't focused on proving himself as a rookie – and he didn't have to, fitting in with his veteran counterparts immediately – or thinking about any of the storylines that came with being the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
All Warren was focused on was playing football. And as he reflects on his rookie season, that's still all he's focused on.
"I think I did some good, did some bad," Warren said. "And I think it'll just be a big learning experience for me this offseason and making sure I don't make the same mistakes twice when I come back and get a chance in that second year."
Warren finished the 2025 season with 76 receptions for 817 yards (10.8 avg.), setting a franchise record for most yards by a rookie tight end, and four touchdowns as well as six carries for eight yards and a rushing touchdown. His physicality and natural athleticism set him apart immediately, and his versatility quickly came in handy as he lined up as a fullback, halfback, wide receiver and quarterback (in wildcat formation) at various points throughout the season.
Per Pro Football Focus, Warren lined up in wildcat formation three times, in the backfield 64 times (mainly as a fullback) and as a receiver – both in the slot and out wide – for a total of 384 snaps. He also made a few appearances on special teams, both in kick return and field goal/extra point situations. Warren lined up technically as a tight end for 466 snaps, or 51.8 percent of the time.
Warren started all 17 games in 2025 and was on the field for 899 of the Colts' 1,075 offensive snaps (sixth-most on the team), more than double the next-highest tight end (Mo Alie-Cox at 421). Warren also played the sixth-most snaps among all NFL tight ends in the regular season, and the most of any rookie tight end by over 100 snaps (Cleveland Browns' rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was second with 786). He finished 12th among all rookies, with nine of the top 11 players being offensive linemen.
"I feel like just with the tight end position you do a lot of different stuff," Warren said as he reflected on his season. "So being able to kind of have that under your belt after one year and then learning from all that stuff, run game, pass game, you know, some ball carrying that I did, just learning from all that, like I said, and getting better at it."
Warren's no-nonsense mentality and strong work ethic meant he was a seamless fit into the culture in the Colts locker room. He gained the respect of his fellow tight ends, as well as the wide receivers and offensive linemen, for his willingness to put his body on the line and do whatever the team needed him to do, and quickly showed how motivated he was to keep improving.
"He knows that he's a valuable part in this offense, and for this offense to go he kind of needs to get rolling too," tight end Drew Ogletree said. "He's a very smart player and he knows like, hey, I gotta go. We know we rocking with him, he knows we rocking with him, he's rocking with us. So every time he's out on the field making plays makes us want to go make some plays."
And if there's one thing about Warren, it's that he's always trying to get better – and his first NFL offseason provides the time to continue doing that.
"I think just being able to have another offseason where I'm really football lifting, getting strength back," he added. "Obviously when you're in the combine, you prep and stuff and kind of take a step back and make sure you're completely healthy. But I think doing that and just working on getting in and out of routes, stuff like that. Fundamentals, more mobility and flexibility and stuff like that I think will be good for me."
