This offseason, NFL running backs have come together to demand a raise.
What began with star backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs holding out for more money has turned into a league-wide movement. Numerous big names have gone on record publicly criticizing the NFL for underpaying talented players in their position, including former Offensive Player of the Year Derrick Henry.
Colts standout Jonathan Taylor is the latest back to air his contract grievances. The NFL’s leading rusher from 2021 is engaged in a public war of words with team owner Jim Irsay, and he has reportedly requested a trade from the team. As usual, the issue stems from disagreements over his worth as a player.
MORE: Jonathan Taylor’s contract dispute, explained
But the league’s reluctance to splash the cash on running backs is nothing new. For years, executives and coaches around the NFL have used the plug-and-play strategy when it comes to tailbacks — and it’s working. According to The Ringer, no Super Bowl-winning team since 2013 has paid its starting running back a salary of more than $2.5 million.
That figure obviously pales in comparison to recent quarterback mega-deals penned by the likes of Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert. But it also falls well short of many linebackers, offensive tackles, safeties and even kickers. Yes, kickers.
NFL kicker vs. running back salaries
In recent weeks, you may have seen a viral stat claiming kickers make more on average than NFL running backs — and it’s true. On average, kickers make about $400,000 more than running backs in the NFL.
Can someone please explain this? pic.twitter.com/e9XgywpOF9
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 18, 2023
What gives? Why are running backs — so integral to offensive success — being paid so much less than their teammates?
The sad truth is that by the time a running back reaches a point in their career where they can ask for a hefty raise, their body has already worn down significantly. As Defector’s Tom Ley put it, teams are usually happy to settle for a replacement who is two-thirds as productive as the established back, but half the price.
Kickers are obviously much more durable than running backs when you compare the physical toll of the two positions. That makes front offices more comfortable handing out bigger contracts to top kickers. Kickers are also crucial players in their own right, and they can often be the difference between a win and a loss.
It’s also very important to note these numbers are just the averages of every NFL player in those positions. The highest-paid running backs in the league still make way more money than the highest-paid kickers. However, there are only 32 kickers in the league at any given time compared to more than 100 running backs. The lower end kickers make a decent chuck more per year than the lower end tail backs.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the average NFL salary by position across the entire league:
MORE: Derrick Henry explains why he started RB group chat: ‘I think of the future’
Average NFL salary by position
(All figures taken from Spotrac.)
| Position | Average Salary |
| Left tackle | $8.9 million |
| Quarterback | $5.1 million |
| Right tackle | $5 million |
| Inside linebacker | $3.8 million |
| Outside linebacker | $3.7 million |
| Tackle | $3.2 million |
| Edge | $3.2 million |
| Defensive End | $3 million |
| Offense | $2.8 million |
| Offensive line | $2.8 million |
| Defensive line | $2.7 million |
| Defense | $2.6 million |
| Guard | $2.5 million |
| Defensive tackle | $2.5 million |
| Linebacker | $2.4 million |
| Center | $2.4 million |
| Wide receiver | $2.2 million |
| Safety | $2.2 million |
| Kicker | $2.2 million |
| Secondary | $2.1 million |
| Cornerback | $2 million |
| Tight end | $2 million |
| Running Back | $1.8 million |
| Fullback | $1.7 million |
| Punter | $1.5 million |
| Long snapper | $1.1 million |
The highest-paid position in the NFL on average is left tackle, with an average annual salary of $8.9 million. Quarterback is a distant second at $5.1 million per year, while right tackle comes in third at $5 million.
The lowest-paid positions on average are long snapper at $1.1 million per year, punter at $1.5 million per year and fullback at $1.7 million per year. Running back is the fourth-lowest paid position, with an average annual salary of $1.8 million.
It may be surprising to see left tackle in the top spot, but it really shouldn’t be. For a right-handed quarterback, the left tackle is your single most important teammate on the field. He protects your blind side from pass rushers and prevents you from getting walloped out of the blue, which can lead to turnovers, or even worse, injuries.
Once again, it’s important to remember this list is entirely based on averages throughout the league. No left tackle is making the kind of money the NFL’s top quarterbacks are, but virtually every team is handing their best left tackle (or right tackle, in the case of left-handed quarterbacks) a tidy paycheck.
On the flip side, many teams simply don’t have an elite quarterback on their roster, so they aren’t paying big bucks to their starter. The Green Bay Packers, for instance, have four quarterbacks on their roster, but they are paying them just $1.7 million per year on average. Simply put, the quarterback position is far more top heavy in terms of salary, putting it well below left tackle on this list.
Unfortunately for running backs, the NFL has figured out how to minimize investment at their position while maximizing returns. Despite being among the most important players on the field, they remain underpaid across the board. It’s unlikely their average salary will change much at all in the years to come.