Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry doesn't want the NFL to undervalue him and his fellow running backs. He wants people to know carrying the ball and scampering for yardage multiple times in an NFL game is a thankless job.
Although quarterbacks touch the ball on every possession, running backs get their fair share of the workload, too. Not only that, but running backs also have star power in television commercials, per The Associated Press‘ Teresa M. Walker.
“Have you all witnessed it? I'm pretty sure you all have. So yes, just trying to show that we are valuable as any other position. They use us in commercials and all over the place. And we just want our share due,” Derrick Henry said.
“It's tough right now. Just want to do anything possible to help us show our value, do it on the field and definitely try to be together as a movement to improve the situation,” Henry continued.
Controversy over the position's value has reached epic proportions. Henry organized a group chat among his fellow running backs before training camp kicked off so they could weigh in on the issue.
For some experts such as radio sports talk show host Dan Patrick, the Titans' Derrick Henry isn't just an underpaid running back – he is one of the most underpaid athletes today. Henry's $12.5 million salary is third among running backs behind Christian McCaffrey ($16 million) and Alvin Kamara ($15 million) in the 2023 NFL season.
Other running backs – most notably the Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor – have expressed their desire for a heftier paycheck.
Yes, the running back position is indeed valuable. Here's hoping the NFL ‘s running backs will get paid their worth moving forward.