NFL players aren’t known to be vocal about their salaries. Many of them are among the richest athletes in the world, playing in the richest league of all. But the same can’t be said for every position, especially the running back.

Despite being an integral part of the attack, statistics reveal that the running backs are paid considerably lower; even lower than the special team.

Why are the running backs overlooked when it comes to the money?

The possible reason dates back to 2018 when the LA Rams signed a four-year contract extension deal worth $57 million with running back Todd Gurley. Gurley, who was still under his rookie contract, saw things fall apart when knee issues kept him out for longer periods. The Rams showed no mercy and kicked Gurley out in 2022 with 2 season’s contract remaining.

Since then, NFL franchises seem to have given up on investing high in the running backs. So much so that the average salary of a kicker is more than that of a running back in the NFL.

That is just the average. The actual figure for the RBs at the lower end lies well below that. An example is the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Isiah Pacheco’s salary. In a recent survey by the news outlet Over The Cap, the Chiefs’ running back failed to make it to the list of the highest-paid 32 RBs in the league.

The list even features the Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards with a $2.7 million/year contract. It’s shocking given Pacheco’s contribution to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory in just his rookie season.

To be exact, Pacheco’s current contract pays him a mere $933,777 per year on average. The amount is less than 1/56th of what captain Patrick Mahomes, who earns over $52 million a year, gets paid. Mahomes’ salary earns him more than half of the league’s running backs’ salaries combined.

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It’s safe to say that without having Pacheco by his side, the Chiefs’ offensive productivity will significantly drop. Patrick Mahomes relies heavily on his ball-carrying capabilities, and the young RB has been monumental for the defending champions since day one. And despite his efforts, the figures in his bank account don’t do him justice. But the fact is that Pacheco has never publicly revealed his dissatisfaction, and that’s all that matters for the Chiefs at the end of the day.