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Freakonomics Radio
620. Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore?
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.
01:01:21
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Quick takeaways
- The decline in running backs' salaries is largely due to the NFL's increasing focus on passing strategies driven by analytics.
- Structural changes from the 2011 collective bargaining agreement have limited running backs' earning potential during their prime career years.
Deep dives
The Rise and Fall of Running Backs in the NFL
Running backs were once the superstars of the NFL, revered for their power, speed, and agility. However, in recent years, their prominence and salaries have declined significantly due to the increasing emphasis on the passing game. This shift has been gradual, as analytics have shown that passing plays are generally more valuable than running plays, leading teams to favor quarterbacks and receivers who can take advantage of new rules designed to facilitate passing. Statistics reveal that the average salary of starting running backs has dropped to around $6 million, significantly behind the average of over $30 million for quarterbacks.
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