Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has revealed his intention to save the entirety of his record-breaking $53 million guaranteed first NFL contract. The highly-rated Love, selected No. 3 overall by the Cardinals out of Notre Dame in last month's NFL Draft, formally signed his four-year, $53 million deal on Friday. This contract includes the most guaranteed money ever paid to a running back in NFL history.
His $13.25 million annual salary ranks seventh highest among current NFL running backs, despite Love not having played a single professional snap. However, after signing the lucrative deal, he emphasized his commitment to financial prudence. "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."
Love stressed that he remains focused on earning his place in the league. "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."
He added, "I'm not going to touch the money. I'm probably going to put it all away and live normally like I've been doing now. It'll be life-changing for them (his family). I'm going to help them out, take care of them." Love is believed to have already earned over $1 million through lucrative NIL deals while in college, admitting Friday that he is "pretty well off already" and doesn't "need to touch that money as of right now, which I most definitely will not."
The 6-foot, 212-pound Love was the earliest running back taken in the draft since Saquon Barkley was selected by the New York Giants with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. He joins a crowded running back room that already includes James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson. The Cardinals are in the midst of a rebuild after finishing with a 3-14 record in 2025. Love ran for 1,372 yards and scored 21 touchdowns combined in his final season, leading the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record. His presence in the Cardinals' offense should provide another potent option next to All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson.
