Saquon Barkley’s remarkable season led him to achieve the title of the highest-paid running back in NFL history. On March 4, 2025, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million, becoming the first running back to earn over $20 million per year.
This extension highlights Barkley’s incredible performance during the 2024 season, where he rushed for 2,005 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, making him one of only nine players to break the 2,000 yards mark in a single season.
Notably, Barkley registered a staggering seven runs of over 60 yards, setting an NFL record for the season. He finished the year with 2,504 total rushing yards (including playoffs) and a total of 2,857 yards from scrimmage, marking the highest ever in a single season. He has joined an elite group of running backs who have claimed prestigious awards such as Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, in addition to winning a Super Bowl title, alongside legends like Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk.
The restructured contract positions Barkley favorably for the future and changes the market dynamics for running backs in the NFL. Here are the top contracts for running backs based on average annual salary:
| Player | Team | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles | $20,600,000 |
| Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers | $19,000,000 |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | $14,000,000 |
| Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints | $12,250,000 |
| Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers | $12,000,000 |
| Joe Mixon | Houston Texans | $9,875,000 |
| James Conner | Arizona Cardinals | $9,500,000 |
| David Montgomery | Detroit Lions | $9,125,000 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots | $9,000,000 |
| Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers | $8,300,000 |
The running back market has evolved significantly over the last two years, and with this extension, Barkley sets a new precedent for future contracts.
