Stephen Dubner

But can you name the running backs who helped the Chiefs win all these Super Bowls? Probably not. They've been practically interchangeable, most of them earning between $1 and $3 million a year, compared to Kelsey's $17 million and Mahomes' $45 million. Now, you may be thinking, I understand that running backs have become somewhat less valuable, but are they really that much less valuable?

But can you name the running backs who helped the Chiefs win all these Super Bowls? Probably not. They've been practically interchangeable, most of them earning between $1 and $3 million a year, compared to Kelsey's $17 million and Mahomes' $45 million. Now, you may be thinking, I understand that running backs have become somewhat less valuable, but are they really that much less valuable?

The answer to that question has to do with something that happened in 2011.

The answer to that question has to do with something that happened in 2011.

The answer to that question has to do with something that happened in 2011.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner and you were listening to Freakonomics Radio. Back in September, at the start of the NFL season, the economist Roland Fryer and I decided to team up to try to learn why running back salaries have fallen so much since their heyday. Salaries are driven in part by where a player is selected in the NFL draft.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner and you were listening to Freakonomics Radio. Back in September, at the start of the NFL season, the economist Roland Fryer and I decided to team up to try to learn why running back salaries have fallen so much since their heyday. Salaries are driven in part by where a player is selected in the NFL draft.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner and you were listening to Freakonomics Radio. Back in September, at the start of the NFL season, the economist Roland Fryer and I decided to team up to try to learn why running back salaries have fallen so much since their heyday. Salaries are driven in part by where a player is selected in the NFL draft.

In 1990, 12 running backs were taken in the first two rounds of the draft. This year, there was one. So what's driving this decline? We've already heard about the analytics revolution that showed the value of passing versus running. We've heard about rule changes the NFL adopted to privilege passing game.

In 1990, 12 running backs were taken in the first two rounds of the draft. This year, there was one. So what's driving this decline? We've already heard about the analytics revolution that showed the value of passing versus running. We've heard about rule changes the NFL adopted to privilege passing game.

In 1990, 12 running backs were taken in the first two rounds of the draft. This year, there was one. So what's driving this decline? We've already heard about the analytics revolution that showed the value of passing versus running. We've heard about rule changes the NFL adopted to privilege passing game.

But there was another big change in 2011 that shook things up for NFL rookies generally and running backs in particular. team has control of you for five years. That is Robert Turbin. He was an NFL running back for four teams over eight seasons, including a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks. Today, he does football commentary for CBS Sports. Roland Fryer spoke with him.

But there was another big change in 2011 that shook things up for NFL rookies generally and running backs in particular. team has control of you for five years. That is Robert Turbin. He was an NFL running back for four teams over eight seasons, including a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks. Today, he does football commentary for CBS Sports. Roland Fryer spoke with him.

But there was another big change in 2011 that shook things up for NFL rookies generally and running backs in particular. team has control of you for five years. That is Robert Turbin. He was an NFL running back for four teams over eight seasons, including a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks. Today, he does football commentary for CBS Sports. Roland Fryer spoke with him.

The CBA is the collective bargaining agreement, the contract between NFL teams and the NFL Players Association, the union that represents the athletes. The negotiations over a CBA are long and often contentious as they establish pay standards and other terms for years to come. The current CBA was agreed to in 2020 and runs through the 2030 season. The one before that went into effect in 2011.

The CBA is the collective bargaining agreement, the contract between NFL teams and the NFL Players Association, the union that represents the athletes. The negotiations over a CBA are long and often contentious as they establish pay standards and other terms for years to come. The current CBA was agreed to in 2020 and runs through the 2030 season. The one before that went into effect in 2011.

The CBA is the collective bargaining agreement, the contract between NFL teams and the NFL Players Association, the union that represents the athletes. The negotiations over a CBA are long and often contentious as they establish pay standards and other terms for years to come. The current CBA was agreed to in 2020 and runs through the 2030 season. The one before that went into effect in 2011.

Overall, the 2011 CBA was a lucrative affair for the players. Their share of league revenues rose from 42% to 47%. But that agreement also came with some restrictions for rookies. Before 2011, a drafted player could freely negotiate a contract with the team that chose him. This led to some bad deals for teams when the player didn't play well or got hurt.

Overall, the 2011 CBA was a lucrative affair for the players. Their share of league revenues rose from 42% to 47%. But that agreement also came with some restrictions for rookies. Before 2011, a drafted player could freely negotiate a contract with the team that chose him. This led to some bad deals for teams when the player didn't play well or got hurt.

Overall, the 2011 CBA was a lucrative affair for the players. Their share of league revenues rose from 42% to 47%. But that agreement also came with some restrictions for rookies. Before 2011, a drafted player could freely negotiate a contract with the team that chose him. This led to some bad deals for teams when the player didn't play well or got hurt.