Are the Chicago Bears part of the running back salary problem?

Have you been on social media lately? One of our very own at FanSided sparked a massive debate on Twitter when he created an image comparing the average salary of running backs vs the average salary of kickers in 2023. The image was circulated by many, including Dez Bryant. Fans, analysts and players weighed in on the current market for running backs. It made me wonder, are the Chicago Bears part of the problem?

The simple answer is both yes and no. Billionaire owners and the NFLPA take the biggest brunt of the blame. Players to a degree are at fault for accepting below-market contract offers. The problem is that those running backs who are making less than $1 million dollars annually are more likely to cross over and accept whatever they are offered. The alternative could be finding themselves on the street without a contract at all.

The Chicago Bears have not helped the salary landscape of running backs

Let's look at a few numbers before we try to find a conclusion. First of all, to go back to the graphic that has been all over Twitter and alike, the average salary for running backs is just shy of $1.8 million. Kickers on the other hand are averaging nearly $2.2 million. Second, this could use a little bit of context though.

One of the main reasons why the running back position comes in so low compared to kickers is the salary at the top end of the spectrum is not high enough. There has not been a trickle-down effect to force teams into paying this specific position and quite frankly it is sad. Here is a more in-depth look at how the numbers shake out.