No position in the NFL has been as thoroughly devalued in recent years as the running back and one Pro Bowler is really started to get annoyed by it.
Appearing on The Jim Rome Show, free agent running back Melvin Gordon didn’t seem too optimistic about his NFL future. He admitted that it’s tough for running backs right now and called it “the worst position to play in the NFL right now.”
“It’s so tough for running backs right now, man. You have a lot of running backs out there and we just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks,” Gordon said.
Despite the amount of punishment that a running back takes in a given year, only a handful make over $5 million per year. They also have some of the shortest careers of any position in the league – even among the elite.
Melvin Gordon to @jimrome about his future: “It’s so tough for running backs right now, man. You have a lot of running backs out there and we just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks.”pic.twitter.com/6IfR50tdOI
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 23, 2023
There are few if any running backs that play into their 30s anymore as opportunities tend to dry up even as they hit their physical prime due to the wear and tear that the NFL inflicts.
The days of the “bell cow running back” where a player gets 20 carries per game are dwindling. Less than 10 players recorded over 250 carries in 2022 and only four did so in 2021.
Simply put, if you’re a running back who can’t also catch the ball at a consistent rate, your opportunities will be limited.
Things may get worse for elite running backs before they get better.