NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Before Jeremiah Love takes an NFL snap, veteran running backs must already be pretty jealous of him.
That’s because the third overall pick in last month’s NFL Draft officially signed his $53 million rookie deal on Friday.
Love’s deal is the most guaranteed money ever given to a running back in NFL history, by a wide margin.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiah Love runs during rookie minicamp at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe, Arizona on May 8, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The previous record was the $36 million Saquon Barkley got by signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Just below him is Ashton Jeanty’s $35.9 million rookie deal.
Love impressed with Notre Dame and shot up in the draft, and the Arizona Cardinals didn’t let him slip past them.
He ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season for the Fighting Irish, while surpassing 100 yards in six of his 14 carries. He even rushed for a whopping 228 yards against the USC Trojans.
Love became the highest drafted running back since the New York Giants selected Barkley second overall out of Penn State in 2018. And he joins a Cardinals offense that will be revamped under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiah Love runs during rookie minicamp at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe, Arizona on May 8, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
BREECE HALL WILL BE NFL’S THIRD HIGHEST-PAID RUNNING BACK, SO MAYBE JETS’ OFFENSE WON’T STINK AGAIN
Despite the payday, Love has already decided he’s going to be careful with his money.
“I’m not using any of my NFL checks,” Love said to BRGridiron. “All that money, my financial advisor is going to take care of it all. I don’t know about that, it’s not my job. It’s going to be there and make more and more money.”
Instead, Love said he would use his endorsement money during his career. Even then, he doesn’t think of a lavish one lifestyle for himself.
“The first thing I can buy with my marketing money is a house for my parents, a car for my dad,” he explained. “Shoot, I’ll put myself last. I’ve got to take care of my family first.”
The running back market stalled for a while, but in recent offseasons, front offices seem to have reversed course.
Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame celebrates after being selected as the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
But if Love doesn’t live up to payday, it could become a trendsetter for how front offices view the position in the future.
