The Colts rookie tight end recently received some high praise in playing style ‘from arguably one of the top NFL players to ever play his position.
According to future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski, new Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren has some similarities in playing style to well . . . the Canton-bound ‘Gronk’ himself (via HSMobPodcast):
Rob Gronkowski speaks on Colts Tyler Warren.
“Tyler Warren has my type of game more. It’s not catch 10 footballs or more, it’s 4 big ones for a first down, 3rd and 20, catch it up the middle and knock some guys out, and you’ve got to last. Tyler Warren gets dirty, and that’s… pic.twitter.com/7wrBtjFc7d
— Horseshoe Mob Podcast (@HSMobPodcast) May 11, 2025
Having recently been selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by Indianapolis, the listed 6’5.5,” 256 pound First-Team All-American and John Mackey Award recipient, Warren, has been lauded for his physicality and toughness as a ball carrier.
With some coaching by his dad early on, he mimicked the playing style of former Washington running back great John Riggins, who Warren wore #44 to honor while starring collegiately at Penn State, both preferring to lower their pads and go through opposing defenders rather than around to avoid them.
That’s how popular former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan favorite ‘Gronk’ also infamously played—actively seeking out physical contact on the football field, once infamously throwing a former Colts defensive back, Sergio Brown, ‘out of the club’ on Sunday Night Football back in 2014.
So when a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 4x First-Team All-Pro, and 5x Pro Bowl tight end has some high praise, that’s a pretty nice tip of the helmet for anyone.
For what it’s worth too, outside of since adopted Colt Adam Vinatieri, Vince Wilfork, and Randy Moss, Gronk had to have been one of the most likeable Patriots from the prior ‘Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era’ of Patriots football—from what we can easily stomach.
Gronk is right too that Warren is probably closer to his former playing career mold—or someone like former New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, than more of a volume receiving tight end such as last year’s reigning All-Pro rookie tight end Brock Bowers.
That being said, with his ability to block, play multiple positions, and have some big chunk plays as a ball carrier, he has a chance to also consistently impact the game at a high level, even as a rookie tight end for the Colts this upcoming season.