Yet to take an NFL snap, Jeremiyah Love has already made league history.
The Notre Dame running back, taken third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, signed his four-year, $53 million rookie contract on Friday. The deal features the most guaranteed money ever paid to a running back in NFL history.
Love’s $13.25 million average per year ranks seventh among current running backs.
“It’s very life-changing. That amount of money would change anybody’s life,” Love said Friday as Arizona kicked off rookie minicamp. “For me, personally, it doesn’t change my mindset. Obviously, I’m only getting that much because … I’m the third pick in the draft. Every high pick is gonna get a lot of money. I still haven’t done anything at the end of the day. I’m coming into the league with a mindset. I’m ready to work, ready to earn the things that I’ve been given.
“I’m here to play football. You get paid a lot to do it, but at the end of the day, I’ve still got to perform on the field. The money is there, which is a blessing. It’s a lot of money.”
When the Cards took Love at No. 3, it was the highest a running back had been taken since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018. Consequently, Barkley’s $31.8 million guaranteed with his rookie contract was the previous NFL high prior to Love inking his pact.
