Why Are Running Backs So Underpaid?

A detailed look at the running back position, and why they're so underpaid.
Follow BLITZ
Instagram: / blitz
Imagery supplied by Getty Images

[@Lamarisgoated]

Blitz is going to be better than nonstop (same person)

[@nonstop]

👀

[@Lamarisgoated]

What the actual f*ck i did not thing you would reply

[@Joe-pp3sk]

Real

[@NewYorkSWAGG100]

Ai channels

[@guapseeno6254]

I thought nonstop was rebound

[@derricknichols5787]

The new qb rules messed up everything. Thanks for you're info

[@ryanjennings9614]

This was an outstanding video! stats i never even considered! In my opinion, rookie contracts need to be 1 year shorter and franchise tags are legitimate contract manipulation. Tags should only be one year per player coming off rookie contract.

[@patrickfiorito]

Here is the fix. Limit rookie RB contracts to 2 years. It's not really fair when most are done in the league at 30. And rookie contracts need start with a higher ceiling. . The situation isn't really fair to RB.

[@YosemiteJ]

Yeah, Zeke and McCaffrey screwed it up for all of them. More Zeke if anyone. Cowboys reluctantly paid him a big contract, only from him to become an average RB at best after the big payday. I think the NIL will change things, causing RBs to stay in college longer and get big pay days by staying down a level.

[@ryanjennings9614]

great point! NIL benefits are already extending college careers.

[@Billyshatner88]

McCaffrey didn't ruin shit hes worth every cent LMAO when hes in the field hes absolute game changer he was injured for 2 half seasons and came back just as good as ever 49ers are 15-1 with him on the field and 14 straight games with a TD 49ers aint doing no where near what they do with out his double threat of the run or coming out the back field as a receiving threat

[@brooklynfinesse2270]

Bruh he got injured it impossible for running back to stay healthy when they get takled and go threw the middle they should get paid more for that

[@trevorsanso32]

this channel underrated as hell

[@penguinrea0088]

Keep up your fantastic videos, God bless you

[@Whyteeford]

It's pretty simple...a solid O Line = solid numbers from your RB. Therefore, if you spend big bucks on the RB, and skimp out on the O Line..that RB won't put up solid numbers.

[@EshBBX]

The one thing that's completely warped about all this is that they intend to fully use up the back and yet underpay him while they do it without remorse.

[@papabare1977]

I was fortunate enough to grow up in the era of Barry, Emmitt, and Thurman. Now, that was a fun time to watch three yards and a cloud of dust.

[@Star-um9cz]

Some people really don’t know how important someone is until they let them go.

[@MichaelChevy]

Great video

[@Physics072]

Barry Sanders was more exciting than ANY QB or WR in history. A tough act to follow. We have been looking for the next Barry for 25+ years so far crickets.

[@dominicankilla1992]

Adrian Peterson and LT were a snooze right?

[@washworks7630]

@@dominicankilla1992 they were not Barry tho close but not the same.

[@multiyapples]

Fascinating.

[@garymoore9413]

I think it's because, there are so many Running Backs out there ,and depending on how well the Offensive play . Any one of these R B can do well . I imagine will see them used for blocking and 3rd and Short.

[@96_toxkyo90]

I love this channel and nonstop (same guy)

[@Macmarmello84]

This is Facts

[@matthewskillo5320]

in general I think the players should all receive a base salary / position and then depending on which round they were drafted (rookies) a bonus % based on a league-wide scale. No player should ever get a massive contract based solely on their college achievements - the rookie contract should be 3 years and then BASED on PLAYER PERFORMANCE - and again taking into consideration things like the strengths of the teams they played; and not based solely on performance, but should also receive incentives and/or mandatory bonuses based on WORKLOAD - there's gotta be a way to pay ea position fairly, but too often what happens is that the GM's are forced to work within cap limits and in order to keep their jobs need to save team owners $...

[@aka501z]

I got your point but... why players only? A lot of horrible coaches and managers take huge cash for the miserable performance. Jeff Fisher, Urban Meyer, that Browns manager etc.

[@Theonlycw13]

I love blitz

[@neverfallnewsmedia]

BC Ladanian Tomlinson was the pinnacle at the R.B. position. Once he stopped, the NFL, knew that no RB would ever perform that high again.

[@joeshcmoe3622]

they gotta nerf quarterbacks

[@benjaminrichter4565]

worst thing is: check superbowl. who were the 2 dominant forces who brought the teams there ? cmc for the niners, pacheko for KC. and it is such a tough position..sad but not only for rb. kyle is the only fb i remember who got at least mentioned over the years.

[@jameswarner5878]

Teams waste money on RB. The modern game you only need a decent RB and trade out every couple of years.

[@almightypalevin8186]

They need to change the rules specifically for the running back position. -NO Franchise tags. -Rookie contracts are 3yrs MAX and can be negotiated after the 2nd year. -NFL teams are allowed to go over the cap to keep their RB they drafted with 0 penalty.

[@markrouse2416]

The discoveries made in head trauma had a lot to do with the RB position taking a hit. In my opinion it had made the NFL a watered down product especially if you enjoy watching good defensive play. Do not forget that all those Super Bowl teams had good defenses.

[@KWillo]

More like the lawsuits that the NFL was hit with had a lot to do with their current product.Though, RB is one of the easiest positions to scout from even the high school level.

[@Carter_974]

I agree it is sad because I want to make it to the NFL as a running back

[@davidhowington7306]

The new qb will suffer the same fate 😢

[@AMGTT]

Don’t help when they get paid then hurt and nerve the same again

[@KeepitMello]

Did that man really just say Corey Dillon was on the Patriots before Tom Brady?

[@SagePorter1]

What about Nick Chubb?

[@rhyannonburnes]

❤

[@panthersfan919]

cmc is actually really good still

[@user-ms9cg5qg9t]

the nfl coaches you mentioned in this video are ganna kill you

[@salvadorteran5181]

Man... Adrian Peterson was crazy good!

[@JuwanBuchanan]

The Chiefs won a Superbowl with a 7th round running back. The era of RB’s getting the big bucks is dead and that sucks.

[@takeittheir5615]

SAD TO SAY BUT Ezekiel Elliot should of made way more in his prime he was so unstoppable especially with the cowboys early years offensive line

[@mramisuzuki6962]

answered your own question there.

[@user-fd5vy9ud3r]

this is so sad, i wish people could just be logical.

[@JasonHyll]

rookie contracts gotta be shorter fr tho make them like 2 years with no tags 👍🏿👍🏿

[@ChillavaKirby]

“Underpaid”

[@dustinsharer879]

NFL go union and pay each position the same

[@dash4800]

1. Running backs are replaceable 2. By the time their due for an extension, most running backs have already had their best years and it will only be downhill from there. Teams aren't gambling a 5 year deal on a guy being a statistical anomaly.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

The real question in my book is "why are baseball players so overpaid?" They average more, have longer careers with less deleterious health effects at retirement, and have significantly less rigorous expectations for team fitness. Its like marginally more athletic than golf...but jesus christ the pay.

[@acursedimage8350]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Running started being replaced by tight ends

[@lowerclassbrats77]

Because they're ridden hard and put away wet. They don't last long.

[@GaryThompsonjr]

Running back use to plAy12year they got ten soft!🤔

[@chimericalical]

Did he just say “the 2004 Patriots before Tom Brady.”? *Checks notes*… where is it… 7th round… no, too far… 6th round … in the *checks notes* 2000 draft. It’s an easy year to remember, 2000. Also, hilarious he mentioned the Patriots winning a superbowl without Tom Brady, cause that never happened…

[@graysonperkins3832]

This is so sad how are these running backs ever going to support their families with only $10 million😢

[@scoot5642]

as much as i agree that’s a lot of money, rb also put themselves as a very high chance of injuries. dangerous role and paid less? rough

[@123chargeit]

@@scoot5642 I was a roofer for a few years and guess how much I made. You are worth what you are worth the league doesn't value RB anymore hit the jugs machine.

[@raggamuffin2682]

I mean Barkley barely shows up anyways. Why didn’t he just save the 200 million. I mean we can’t be any worse then we already are. I mean Saquon Barkley can’t even run 1 yard for a touchdown

[@BurnzThatDude]

I know why

[@H0tDawgWater911]

Bro they get injured all the time

[@123chargeit]

How much are Fullbacks making again? Might want to check the privilege or you might find teams do away with dedicated running backs altogether. Its hard to feel bad for guys that make more money in one year then I'll make in my whole life playing something most of played for free.

[@superdankgod2266]

Bro facts. Why are average guys caring about what any of these players are making. Regardless theyre all making bank. Boo hoo youre not making 50 fcking million dollars. It's kinda cringe.

[@jasonhindman3560]

I feel bad for Christian McCaffrey he’s the goat

[@Rizzoooooo]

imagine they would do this to football in Europe. I must say its crazy for people here but those are straight slave contracts. In this day and Era crazy that people wont stand up to it. If u get out of College u need to agree on ur terms. No lock ups no extensions sign a 2 year rookie contract after that u free on ur terms. Stop this slavery.

[@Ghostmali]

If you want to know what slavery is in football, research on chelsea's loan system. Players sign at 17 and are on loan for rest of their careers.

[@seancai1049]

Running back are not underpaid the fact is they don't contribute that much to willing they are easily replaceable

[@kinostrong6724]

RBs are coins easily replaceable

[@sighugh6745]

1980

[@ZuluGamingSeries]

The Seahawks won with lynch tf

[@plainpotato6454]

Oh yeah we did😂😂

[@OCPARKWAY]

The last big name RB to win a ring..

[@raggamuffin2682]

Poor little rich kids 😂

[@penguinrea0088]

Jesus Loves everybody

[@penguinrea0088]

All of the Glory goes to God

[@johnbrown4949]

Because they aren’t as good as they used to be

[@tfd7915]

It's the nature of the game. Being a great QB requires about 30% talent and 70% IQ. With an RB it's more like 90% talent and 10% IQ And that talent degrades quickly. A 22-year-old running back can run rings around most thirty-year-olds. So why sign a long-term contract with a player you know you can replace in just a few short years? It's not fair but neither is life sometimes.

[@v4v819]

Blame their agents... If the team can get away with paying less for a top runningback, all the more power to them... If they really want their fair share then they got to demand being paid properly or be willing to organize and sit out and pay the consequences needed to make a change... As long as they sign on the dotted line the pre-arranged amount of salary, then they got to live with that reality... They are sowing their own seeds!

[@anthonyml7]

The problem is if they sit out / organize the teams will just go to the next running back coming out of college. Someone with fewer mileage, and willing to take any deal given to them because they'll see it like a golden ticket just to get in regardless of whats offered. What these teams are doing makes sense but that doesn't mean its right. NFL has to change the rules in some way to resolve this.

[@renaldoawes2210]

The issue here is a few things but for sure one of the things is that running backs right now are not producing as much as they once did.

[@america1st721]

If you make over a million dollars a year to play a game, somebody needs to slap you as most Americans are loving life making 75K a year.

[@FireAttack0811]

You dont get it

[@america1st721]

@@FireAttack0811 what don't I get?

[@FireAttack0811]

@@america1st721 so it like if you only get 30k and your co workers get 50k for basically the same work

[@america1st721]

@@FireAttack0811 RB is not a WR, QB, DT, LT, RT, C, K, P, CB, SS, FS... all different positions with completely different skills. Do you think a punter should make as much as a QB?

[@FireAttack0811]

@@america1st721 You werent talking about that you were talking about how they should be grateful or something 🤡🤡🤡

[@raymondkennedy8513]

I’m confused. $10 million for 1 year is a BAD thing?

[@Ebk-pk9fl]

For a amazing rb it is

[@thehalftimeshow]

It really sucks to make millions per year.

[@jaredrubin7843]

well, DALVIN COOK LEFT THE VIKINGS, and they are 0-3, CHRISTIAN MCAFFREY LEFT the PANTHERS, 0-3. this proves that it DOES NOT work all the time.

[@anthonycascio7121]

Saquon, can I buy you a sandwich?

[@brandonjames740]

Ummm because people keep hyping running black QBs that’s change the way the game is played….. it’s boring as fuckkkkk. Learn to throw and give running backs jobs again

[@DionysiusvonAug]

I don't like the way football went... It's not my game anymore.

[@Billyshatner88]

McCaffrey has earned his money though ya sure he got injured and been trade but not be because hes not performing when he's healthy hes a absolute game changer when hes on the field what are the 49ers 15 and 1 since he joined and 14 straight games with TD 49ers arnt doing that with out him so he's a bad example to put this list lmao he will get paid again also guaranteed

[@gregolguin2877]

Im sick of roger goodell, hes changing everything

[@joshuacrumley2031]

This is one of the reasons I no longer watch the NFL. The other being the league rules turning QB's into whiney little pussies. I'll start watching NFL again when they become a football league again.

[@salvadorteran5181]

Watch how the Eagles are playing. They are the the only ones playing a tougher old school running type of offense.

[@Dee0336]

@@salvadorteran5181And the Niners.

[@NeverlandSystemAngel]

Roughing the passer rules SUCK. They are RUINING the game. Take their pads off. Put them in tights, leotards, and tutus... and don't let them get hit at all... cuz they're basically ballerinas now.