Bijan Robinson earned himself a sizable contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons. The extension will keep him in Atlanta through 2030, and it's a three-year deal worth up to $75 million. A player like Robinson needs no explanation for why he's worthy of that kind of contract. Yet just a few years ago, giving a running back $25 million annually was something no general manager or owner would've seriously considered. Thanks to a number of running backs standing their ground, though, the perception of the position has completely changed.
Austin Ekeler paved the way for running backs to get paid big money
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith gave major credit to former Chargers running back Austin Ekeler for helping change the perception of running back value. Smith said, "... let's give major, major props to cats like Austin Ekeler who was out there battling, fighting... the fact is that guy when he was balling, when he was a Charger, was speaking up on behalf of running backs and bringing attention to the plight that they were experiencing..."
Stephen A. knows Ekeler was a major voice in helping restore value to the running back position, even if it frustrated Chargers fans at the time.
In 2023, many of the league's top running backs found themselves playing on the franchise tag. No matter how valuable they were to their offenses or how difficult they were for opposing defenses to stop, front offices simply didn't see the need to hand out long-term deals when a replacement could potentially be found on Day 3 of the draft.
It was Austin Ekeler who, on July 23, 2023, led a Zoom meeting with several of the league's top running backs to discuss how they could once again command fair value in the market. While that meeting didn't immediately lead to holdouts across the league, it did begin a shift. More and more running backs started "holding in," limiting participation in team activities instead of fully reporting without a new deal.
Austin Ekeler was electric during his prime with the Chargers. It's unfortunate how his tenure in Los Angeles came to an end. Tom Telesco, and eventually Joe Hortiz, decided he wasn't worth a long-term extension, even after everything he accomplished at his peak.
While Ekeler never received one of the massive contracts today's top running backs are earning, he absolutely left his mark on the position. The way the league now values elite running backs didn't change overnight, and Ekeler deserves real credit for helping push that conversation forward.
Robinson, and the running backs who cash in after him, should be thankful Ekeler was willing to make the stand he did.
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