Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore? (Update)

They used to be the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, with paychecks to match. Now their salaries are near the bottom, and their careers are shorter than ever. In this updated episode from 2025, we speak with an analytics guru, an agent, an economist, and some former running backs to understand why. SOURCES: Brian Burke, sports data scientist at ESPN. Roland Fryer, professor of economics at Harvard University. LeSean McCoy, former running back in the N.F.L., co-host for Fox's daily studio show, …