When it comes to the Indianapolis Colts' draft class, there are plenty of decent names, but one stands above them all: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. He was one of the most highly sought-after prospects this year, and it was a huge shock when the Colts were able to land him, as few analysts thought Warren would make it to the 14th pick.
But thankfully for the Colts, the stars all aligned, and Warren ended up in Indianapolis.
And so far, Warren has proven he was worth all the hype. There are already rumors flying that he could be the first tight end ever named Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY), and every analyst watching him expects that he'll have an explosive season this year.
Colts icon Peyton Manning is already jumping on the Tyler Warren bandwagon
Analysts aren't the only ones with their eyes on Warren, though. The NFL partnered with Fanatics to bring a message from NFL legends to a select group of rookies, and Warren was one of the rookies they chose. And the legend with a message for him? None other than the Sheriff himself... Peyton Manning.
Messages from NFL legends to NFL rookies:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2025
pic.twitter.com/TwFS1EX7Ny
Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he's a beloved part of Colts' fandom. Under Manning's leadership, the Colts won Super Bowl XLI, their only Super Bowl victory since moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
While Manning did struggle a bit during his rookie season, he was able to learn the ropes quickly enough to become the only quarterback who could arguably beat Tom Brady for the title of GOAT.
Still, he knows how much pressure there is on a rookie to perform, so the message he had for Warren was surely meaningful - not just because he's a legend, or because he's Colts royalty, but because he understands what it's like to have the pressure of an entire city on your shoulders, with sky-high expectations waiting before you even step on the field for your first NFL game.
And his message to Warren was simple. "It's not always easy competing in the NFL," he said. "But Colts fans stuck with me, and I know they'll be behind you every step of the way."