Edgerrin James Exclusive: NFL Insights and Miami’s College Football Playoff Run

Ahead of Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium, we sat down with former University of Miami running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James.

During the interview, James shared his thoughts on the future outlook of the three NFL teams he played for – the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks – as well as the Miami Hurricanes’ national title matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers.

Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, the QB Room, and WR Contracts

We opened our interview by asking a few questions on the Indianapolis Colts, James’ home for the first seven years of his NFL career.

The Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor had another strong season. As a Hall of Fame running back, how impressed are you by Taylor?

Edgerrin James: I love the way he runs. This season, I loved the way he took the lead when it came to taking control of the offense.

When you have so much change at the quarterback position, it takes a real running back to say, “Hey, look, I’m going to be the focal point. I know a lot of people are going to be focused on me, but I have to try to carry this team until the quarterback gets up to speed.”

Taylor has been doing his part and more. He’s taken advantage of every opportunity and, more importantly, he is keeping himself healthy.

It’s clear he’s doing everything it takes to take care of his body. In my opinion, running back is the toughest position on the field physically. So, for him to show up week in, week out, that says a lot about him, his offseason training and his preparation through the week.

Where does Taylor rank among the current elite running backs in the NFL?

Edgerrin James: When I look at the top running backs, it’s hard to choose one over the others.

Taylor is right at the top, though. I’ll always have some bias towards Indianapolis Colts players, but all those guys are great.

These guys are in a position that became devalued over the years, but now you’re getting a chance to see that everything is running through the running backs, so to speak, when it comes to the offense.

Daniel Jones looked impressive prior to his Achilles tear. Do you think the Colts should sign him to a long-term deal?

Edgerrin James: The Colts organization has always made great decisions, and having to make big decisions at the quarterback position is nothing new to them.

We’ve had a bunch of great quarterbacks play in Indianapolis, and the organization knows exactly what’s needed to make that offense go. They have a great head coach in Shane Steichen, a great offensive coordinator in Jim Bob Cooter, and they have an elite offensive line.

They have a complete team, and they understand the importance of the quarterback position. So, whether it’s Daniel Jones or someone else, I’m confident in them making the right decision and doing what they believe is best for the team.

Were you encouraged by what you saw from Daniel Jones in a Colts jersey prior to his injury?

Edgerrin James: I was. At the quarterback position, players usually progress as they get older, wiser and better within an offensive scheme. So, he can only get better too.

Jones came from the New York Giants, and a lot of people gave up on him. But he found the right situation, and the Colts brought the best out of him.

He had a complete offense around him. He was able to thrive and actually use his talents to show everyone what he is capable of.

He showed why the Giants used a high first-round pick on him in the first place, and why he was rated so highly.

For Jones, it’s just a matter of continuity. Getting out there on the field with your teammates and being able to get a better feel for the offensive scheme and for the players. When Jones and the offense can gain that stability and build the chemistry, it can have a big impact in those close games.

Do you think it would be best for both parties if the Colts parted ways with Anthony Richardson Sr.?

Edgerrin James: At the end of the day, it’s clear that Anthony Richardson Sr. is a talented player. He’s extremely talented, but he’s also so young, and the quarterback position is usually based on experience.

He came out of the University of Florida, and he really didn’t have that many games under his belt. So, with his athletic ability, if you give him time, I’m quite sure he’s going to be a successful player.

As far as his future with the Colts goes, that’s another decision the front office has to make, and they have to do what’s best for the organization. Whether he stays at the Colts or not, Richardson also needs to buy into the team’s decision.

Because of his age, it’s way too early to write Richardson off and say he can’t become a starting quarterback in the NFL. A lot of elite quarterbacks in history didn’t have success right away.

Even when you look at Peyton Manning, he didn’t have success early on in Indianapolis, but he got reps and experience.

Richardson has had injuries that keep coming up, and they stop his momentum.

If he can get out there, stay healthy and play back-to-back-to-back, he can only get better because he has all the tools. He can make all the throws. It’s just a matter of experience and reps. That’s what’s missing from his game.

What did you think of Riley Leonard’s performance in Week 18 against the Houston Texans?

Edgerrin James: It was a great performance because he was going into a hostile environment, and Houston was playing to try to win the AFC South, so it was a meaningful game for them.

So, for Leonard to go out there and play like that was really impressive.

I wasn’t completely surprised by his performance, though, as he came from a big-time college football program in Notre Dame, so he’s played in those environments before.

The Colts must be impressed by Leonard because they leaned on him when they could have easily given Philip Rivers another shot at playing, but maybe they understood what was best for the future of their game.

The Colts announced that GM Chris Ballard will return for the 2026 season. Were you surprised at this?

Edgerrin James: When you look at this season, I think it’s hard to point the finger at Chris Ballard or even the head coach, Shane Steichen.

The team was 8-2. Then, they lost a big piece in Daniel Jones and suffered more injuries. It doesn’t matter if you’re the general manager or the head coach, you can’t control injuries.

When injuries happen at really important positions, it’s going to affect the team, and that’s all it was, because if Daniel Jones stays healthy, the Colts would be in the playoffs.

Has Michael Pittman Jr. lived up to his big contract so far?

Edgerrin James: It’s hard to pinpoint whether Pittman Jr. did good or bad because, and I hate to call him a victim, but he is a victim of the circumstances.

He’s already played with different starting quarterbacks. He hasn’t had the chance to play with a real veteran quarterback year in and year out.

For a guy like me, who’s played the game and seen what can happen when you have the same core of offensive players, you know the value of stability, and how it can help you improve and get better.

But when you have a new quarterback and the philosophy of how you attack a defense keeps changing, it makes it tough on everybody.

The organization has a decision to make about what it’s going to do with Pittman Jr.

For me personally, it’s hard to sit there and say this guy hasn’t lived up to expectations. He has had to deal with different quarterbacks and difficult circumstances. If you train in the offseason and prepare with one guy but then as the season goes on, it’s another guy, that can stop your momentum.

Some have said the Colts could prioritize getting out of that contract so they can retain pending free agent Alec Pierce. What are your thoughts on this?

Edgerrin James: Even though I’m not a general manager or in the front office, one thing I know about this organization is that they will do whatever it takes to win. That has been instilled in Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson by their father, Jim Irsay.

They’re going to do whatever is best for the organization and its chances of winning.

Regardless of the player and their position, for them, it’s all about the city of Indianapolis and the Colts organization. I trust them to make the right decision.

Arizona Cardinals: Coaching Search, Marvin Harrison Jr.

The conversation then shifted to the future of the Arizona Cardinals, where Edgerrin spent three seasons.

What traits should the Arizona Cardinals be looking for in their next head coach?

Edgerrin James: Firstly, when you spend the fourth overall pick on a Marvin Harrison Jr., you have to be able to get someone, whether that’s the head coach or offensive coordinator, who can put the ball in his hands, and actually put him in a position to be successful.

Harrison Jr. has been successful all his life, so when you see him sometimes struggling in Arizona, those are the little signs that tell you something isn’t right.

Harrison Jr. is a huge talent. Everybody knows that he’s a talent, but he’s not in a situation where he’s able to do the things that he’s capable of doing. If they put him in the right circumstances, you will see the best of him because he’s committed to the game, and he knows the game like a veteran. It’s just a matter of everything else falling into place around him.

They need to bring in a head coach who will fit the top guys that they already have on the roster and can also help attract star free agents.

Offensively, they have been frustrating.

I know throughout the year, Harrison Jr.’s dad, Marvin Harrison Sr., who was my teammate at the Colts, was frustrated by that offense because you can see that Harrison Jr. came from a certain style of play which allowed him to play well, but you’re not seeing that being done at the Cardinals. That negatively affects the whole team.

Hopefully, they will get the right head coach and bring it all together because they do have a lot of young talent there. It’s just a matter of getting it together and putting the right people in the right places and building on this for years.

Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold, the Challenges of a Running Back Committee

We wrapped up the NFL discussion by touching on James’ third and final team, the Seattle Seahawks, specifically QB Sam Darnold and running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

You spent some time with the Seattle Seahawks at the end of your career. How impressed have you been with their season? Has Sam Darnold proved a lot of his critics wrong?

Edgerrin James: Seattle has been very impressive this year. First, it is such a tough place to play, so going out there against that 12th man will be tough for any team in the league.

That Seahawks team can play football. Sam Darnold came over, and he is doing exactly what he is supposed to do. Now, it’s just a matter of him finishing it and performing well in the playoffs.

They’re playing against a San Francisco 49ers team that has a little momentum. They can’t be counted out because we’ve seen it happen before when a wildcard team catches fire and gains momentum. They lost George Kittle through injury, though, which is a big loss.

Christian McCaffrey is still playing well. However, he has to go against this Seahawks defense. Seattle has a very, very good defense, which is extremely physical.

This could go either way, though, because there’s so many things in the lead up that could affect both teams. It’s playoff football, and they’ve already played each other twice, so they are familiar with each other. The bye week could impact Seattle, but on the other hand, the injuries could just be too much for the 49ers to overcome.

But for Seattle, they have had a great year because I don’t think many people would’ve guessed that they would win the NFC West, while also securing the number one seed.

The Seahawks have two talented backs in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, both of whom see the field a lot. From a player’s perspective, what’s the hardest part of splitting time in a running back rotation — the rhythm, the mindset, or something else?

Edgerrin James: I think it all depends on the running back, as there are different types of backs.

I had to get a feel for the game. I played the whole game, and as the game went on, I found myself getting stronger, and the game was slowing down.

Then there are some guys that can come in, play here and there, and just hit it instantly. They have a sort of microwave mentality, and this can be because they grew up playing that way and always shared the ball.

So, it’s just a matter of what type of back you are.

For somebody like me, I always like it when a running back gets the chance to get a feel for the game. But you still have to come out when you need a breather, and that’s the time it can affect you because you know you’re tired, but you know if you come out, you may not go right back in. This can affect your own decision making at times.

If the coaches and everybody else are on the same page, and they’re able to intertwine both backs, and play at a high level, it can be good for situational football. This is because one back might have different strengths than the other. One might be better in the passing game, and one might be better at running the ball.

So, a lot of it is situational and can change week to week depending on the opponent and game plan.

Is there a running back in today’s game who reminds you of yourself?

Edgerrin James: There are a lot of great running backs in the league right now. It’s hard to say which ones remind me of myself because the game is different now.

It’s not all about just rushing. You have to be able to block and do well in the pass game now. But there are a lot of guys I enjoy watching.

The boys from the Detroit Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, are great to watch, and they run the ball well.

James Cook is a South Florida kid, and he ended up leading the league in rushing. He’s playing at a very high level in Buffalo.

Then you have Christian McCaffrey, who has been elite for years. He is special as he’s dominant in the pass and run game.

I just like to watch the game and enjoy these great running backs as a fan.

Miami Hurricanes: CFP Championship, Carson Beck, and Mark Fletcher Jr.

The Miami Hurricanes face off against the Indiana Hoosiers in Monday’s National Championship game. What do you think of that matchup?

Edgerrin James: It is a great matchup. Especially when you consider that both head coaches Mario Cristobal and Curt Cignetti came from the same coaching tree. They both have a little bit of that Nick Saban tutelage in them. So, you’re going to see both sides play good, sound football.

Talent-wise, I’d say Miami is more talented on paper, but Indiana has some veteran players who are more mature and have some experience. So, it’s a good matchup and a good story.

It’s pretty intriguing because when you look at what Indiana has done to other teams, it might make you think the final is a mismatch. But when you go player for player, offensive line to offensive line, defensive line to defensive line, and look at all the matchups, it’s close.

So, I think it’s just a matter of who makes the least number of mistakes and who can capitalize on the other’s mistakes. Discipline and momentum will be key as well.

I like the fact that Miami is at home, but with the ticket prices being crazy, you’re not going to have the average fan in there. Also, we won’t know if it will truly be a home field advantage because Indiana fans will be there in force too. You’re going to see a sea of red.

Regardless of the fans, it still all comes down to the players, and both teams will have prepared well, so we’re going to see a really good game.

How impressed have you been with Carson Beck this season?

Edgerrin James: As the season has gone on, we have seen Carson Beck progress.

With all quarterbacks and offenses, it all goes back to continuity, being able to play together and being around each other. That just allows you to get better and better.

For Beck, he’s been a totally different player since the playoffs started. This seems like this is his arena.

You can tell he’s been there before and played big games because he is not rattled.

This is not something that’s new to him, and it’s just a matter of him going out and playing like he has in the last three/four weeks.

What have you made of Mark Fletcher Jr.’s season? How important has he been to the Canes in the College Football Playoffs?

Edgerrin James: He is very important to this Miami Hurricanes team.

As a running back throughout the season, it’s hard to get a feel for the game, because you’re switching players in and out. At the start of the season, the Canes had a few guys, including Fletcher Jr., who would alternate and switch.

But when we got to the serious point of the season, Miami leaned on Mark, and he stepped up. He’s done exactly what he’s supposed to do. He gets behind the offensive line, and he’s playing good veteran football.

He reminds me of Derrick Henry a little bit because he’s big, physical and he’s always going to finish his runs.

If he plays like he has been doing, it will be a great help for the Canes’ offense.

The other guys, such as CharMar Brown and Girard Pringle Jr. have played their part during the season as well. So, it’s not just Mark Fletcher Jr., it’s Mark Fletcher Jr. and company.

On the other side, Indiana is led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is tipped to go first overall in this year’s NFL Draft. What do you think of his game?

Edgerrin James: Mendoza is very impressive.

When he was at the University of California, the Canes had a chance to play against him. The Canes won, and hopefully that’s the same on Monday.

But the kid can play ball. He’s a very smart football player too.

He’ll have a lot of support down there in Miami because of his Cuban heritage combined with the fact that he went to high school in Miami. So, you could argue it’s like a home game for him too.

He’s going to have support. The Miami Hurricanes will obviously have support. It might just come down to whichever quarterback plays the best out of Mendoza and Beck.

As someone who spent many years in Indiana while playing for the Colts, would a little bit of you be happy for the Hoosiers if they won the national championship?

Edgerrin James: As somebody who spent time there and has been part of the community, I would be happy for the people of Indiana.

I have a great relationship with the Colts and the daughters of Jim Irsay, who now own the team. Two of them are actually Indiana alumni, so we get a chance to go back and forth about this.

I get the chance to be a fan sitting on the side rooting for Miami, but I understand how much this also means for the people of Indiana, given that it is traditionally a basketball state.

So, it’s just going to be a good atmosphere all around.

The Hard Rock Bet Party

Finally, we closed the conversation by asking Edgerrin about being a part of the Hard Rock Bet Party campaign this fall.

What was it like filming the Hard Rock Bet Party with so many of your former teammates?

Edgerrin James: It was a lot of fun because we were out there just kicking it with our guys, and that’s what made it even better.

The cast was pretty much full of the University of Miami guys, and that’s what made it really cool. Hard Rock did a great job of bringing everybody together and making it work.