Jaylen Warren's brilliance leads the Steelers past the Colts 34-22

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jaylen Warren spent time before Pittsburgh's game against Indianapolis watching old highlights of himself, back when the fifth-year running back was just 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds of raw material playing for a junior college in Utah, a time in his life when the spotlight of the NFL seemed a million miles away.

That spotlight is considerably closer now.

So close that Warren is practically standing in it.

Warren had a star turn during the Steelers' 34-22 victory over the Colts on Sunday, piling up 188 total yards and two long touchdowns while outplaying Indy's Jonathan Taylor in a three-hour showcase for Warren's journey from undrafted rookie free agent to maybe one of the NFL's best players at his position.

“I've always believed in myself,” Warren said.

So have the Steelers (3-2), who relied heavily on Warren's churning legs to bounce back from a loss to Cleveland.

Warren's 80-yard catch-and-run score in the first quarter gave Pittsburgh an early jolt, and his 50-yard sprint to the end zone through the middle of the Indianapolis defense in the third quarter ended with Warren clearing an imaginary hurdle at the goal line, a nod to the teenager who would occasionally do the same while scoring for Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.

In between the splashy plays were grimy yards between the tackles, including a 1-yard gain on fourth-and-1 in Indianapolis territory in the fourth quarter that set up the second of tight end Pat Freiermuth's touchdowns.

“He's the man,” Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said of Warren. “He's hauling it right now for us.”

Warren hasn't really had a choice. With backfield mate Rico Dowdle missing a third straight game with a toe injury, Warren was Pittsburgh's only experienced option. He showed again he is capable — and more than willing — to carry a heavy workload.

“Whenever my name is called, I've got to seize the moment,” said Warren, who has 490 total yards in the three games since Dowdle went out. “With Rico being down, obviously it sucks, but knowing he's one day closer to coming back, I feel like I can hold it down until then.”

The Steelers needed Warren, Aaron Rodgers and their offense to be productive on a day the Colts (2-3) hung around well into the fourth quarter.

Rodgers completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three scores. While Warren did most of the work on their 80-yard connection, the 42-year-old Rodgers paid the price by absorbing a crushing hit from 314-pound Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart as he flicked the ball to the do-everything running back.

“I feel like I kind of earned it a bit,” Rodgers said about his ninth touchdown pass of at least 80 yards or more, which tied Ben Roethlisberger's NFL record. “Maybe not 80 yards and a touchdown, but yeah.”

Pat Freiermuth caught five passes for 44 yards and two scores for Pittsburgh, the second a 17-yard toss from Rodgers with 6:40 remaining that gave the Steelers enough cushion to beat the Colts for the 10th time in 12 meetings.

Daniel Jones threw for 267 yards for Indianapolis (2-3) and avoided the turnovers that have plagued him whenever he's faced the Steelers, but the Colts also had drives consistently stall in Pittsburgh territory.

Spencer Shrader kicked five field goals for Indianapolis, including three in the second half from 40 yards and in.

“We settled for way too many field goals today,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “Those points are huge. They’re four-point plays. Spence did a great job making the kicks, but we have to score touchdowns when we’re in the red zone.”

Three times, the Colts pulled within a point, and Pittsburgh responded each time behind Warren.

Warren said earlier in the week he always wants to be the best running back in the stadium on game day, and he outperformed Taylor, who was limited to 82 total yards and held out of the end zone.

“We know it’s tough to score touchdowns, but in this league, touchdowns is how you win games,” Taylor said.

Tyler Warren finished with seven receptions for 83 yards and the second rushing touchdown of his career, but it wasn't enough for the Colts to win at Pittsburgh for the first time since 2008.

Not with Warren becoming the first player since Herschel Walker for Dallas in 1986 to have a touchdown run of at least 50 yards and a TD catch of at least 80 yards in a game.

“That's unbelievable,” Warren said before deflecting praise as usual, adding later, “It's an honor. It's a credit to my teammates for achieving stats like that.”

Steelers: WR/special teams ace Ben Skowronek left in the second quarter with a calf injury. ... WR Roman Wilson exited in the second quarter after injuring a hand while trying to make a catch. ... LB T.J. Watt was treated for a facial injury in the second quarter after getting gouged by Indianapolis RT Jalen Travis.

Colts: Host AFC South rival Tennessee next Sunday.

Steelers: Visit Tampa Bay next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer )

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) runs for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer )

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer )

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer )

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering firing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after a series of reports alleging she has engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before and during her tenure in Athens.

A senior U.S. official said Sunday that Trump and Rubio are “extremely pissed off” by Guilfoyle’s reported conduct and would likely decide on what action to take this week after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Rubio had been particularly angry, not least because he visited Athens just last week and Guilfoyle attended most, if not all, of his events and greeted him on his arrival with a bear hug as the allegations swirled.

In a series of stories, The Wall Street Journal has reported questionable conduct by Guilfoyle, including an alleged threat to a host country official, accepting improper gifts and services and offering to use her influence inside the administration in return for the payment of a large credit card bill.

Guilfoyle has not addressed the reports directly, although her lawyer has said she did nothing wrong and the U.S. embassy in Athens has tacitly expressed support for her.

After defending Guilfoyle following the first report, Rubio has declined to comment publicly on the growing allegations. On Wednesday, Rubio said: “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”

But after another report appeared late Wednesday, Rubio on Thursday before leaving Athens berated journalists for asking about the allegations saying he didn’t know if they were true and that he would not respond if he could not confirm.

“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things,” Rubio said at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart, looked on.

The official said that Rubio had grown increasingly frustrated as the reports multiplied.

A second U.S official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said the State Department’s inspector general is looking into the allegations, which first began surfacing in the Journal late last month and have since multiplied.

The second official could not say if a formal IG probe had begun. Inspectors general often conduct informal inquiries into complaints against staffers and many times those inquiries do not result in a full-on investigation, which can result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

The State Department has declined to comment on a potential IG investigation.

The top two Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, as well as the ranking member on the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform, Robert Garcia, D-Calif., have already called for an investigation into Guilfoyle.

Since late September, the Journal has detailed numerous accounts of questionable conduct by Guilfoyle. Its first report said that she had told guests at a reception that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business interests of one particular Greek construction and energy company, and allowed its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.

While Rubio was in Athens, the Journal reported — citing text messages — that Guilfoyle had asked a Trump donor and supporter to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did.

The Journal then reported that Guilfoyle had been enraged about not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year and demanded to attend while boasting about luxury travel to France with energy company executives.

Another report, from the British tabloid The Daily Mail, said that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the U.S. embassy in Athens and had pushed the bounds of behavior appropriate for the top representative of the U.S. government to Greece.

Guilfoyle is a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor who was once engaged to Trump’s son Donald Jr.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle stand at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport near Athens, Greece, before Rubio boards a plane , Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle speak during a dedication ceremony at the chancery of the U.S. Embassy, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Athens, Greece. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)