Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love plans to save the entirety of his record-setting rookie contract thanks to his college savings.
"I live in the era of NIL, so I'm pretty well off already," Love said Friday, according to Griffin S. DeMarrais of Arizona's Family KTVK 3TV. "I really don't need to touch that money, as of right now. I most definitely will not."
Love signed a four-year, $53.02-million deal this week, making it the richest fully guaranteed contract ever signed by a running back. The deal includes an average annual salary of $13.25 million and a signing bonus of over $35 million, according to Spotrac.
Arizona's new rusher earned $1.5 million in NIL during his final season at Notre Dame, ranking 29th among college football players, according to On3's NIL valuation board.
"I'm going to make sure I put that money away for my kids, grandkids, stuff like that, so they can have a better life, financially, than I did growing up," Love added. "That's the plan. Plans can change, sometimes, but that's the plan."
Love's $13.25-million average annual salary will also make him the seventh-highest paid running back in the league next season, behind Jonathan Taylor, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Saquon Barkley.
The 20-year-old is the first rusher drafted inside the top five since Barkley went second overall to the New York Giants in 2018.
Love had an incredible college career with the Fighting Irish. After playing sparingly as a freshman, he recorded a combined 3,014 yards from scrimmage and 35 touchdowns over his final two seasons. His stellar 2025 campaign helped him earn a unanimous All-American nomination and the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.
The Cardinals are hoping Love can boost a ground attack that ranked 29th in EPA/rush last season. Michael Carter, who's no longer with the team, led Arizona in rushing last season with just 333 yards on 92 carries.
