Freakonomics Radio 620. Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore?
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Jan 31, 2025 
Roland Fryer, a Harvard economics professor with a penchant for sports, Brian Burke, a sports data scientist at ESPN, and Jeffery Whitney, president of a prominent sports agency, dive into the dwindling salaries of NFL running backs. They discuss the shift from running-focused strategies to the passing game, revealing how analytics now shape player value. Additionally, they explore contract dynamics altered by collective bargaining agreements, shedding light on the physical toll it takes on running backs while questioning the future of their position in the league.
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Childhood RB Idols
- Fans shared childhood memories of idolizing NFL running backs.
- Players like Tony Dorsett, Barry Sanders, and Ricky Waters were mentioned.
RB Salary Decline
- Running backs' average salaries have dropped significantly in the NFL.
- They now rank 13th among player positions, down from 2nd, 30 years prior.
Fryer's RB Passion
- Roland Fryer, a Harvard economist, loved playing running back as a child.
- He was a top draft pick in his Texas Pop Warner league.
