Jeremiyah Love Got So Rich at Notre Dame He Doesn't Need Cardinals Contract
For most people, a $53 million contract would be drastically life-changing.
For Jeremiyah Love, it’s more like the cherry on top.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Love out of Notre Dame with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, making the Heisman finalist the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went second overall to the New York Giants in 2018.
Love officially became a Cardinal on Friday, as he signed his four-year, $53.9 million rookie contract, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is fully guaranteed, the most guaranteed money given to a running back in NFL history (via NFL).
Love met with the media after his first day at the Cardinals’ rookie minicamp, also on Friday, and delivered the ultimate flex: “I live in the era of NIL, so I’ve been pretty well off already. I really don’t need to touch that money as of right now, which I most definitely will not.”
Love shared that his parents had set up a financial team to handle this, so he isn’t paying it much mind. He plans to put his NFL salary money away for his future kids and grandkids and live off the money he makes from marketing deals.
“It’s very life-changing,” Love said. “That amount of money would change anybody’s life, but I mean, for me, personally, it doesn’t change my mindset. Obviously, I’m only getting that much because I was the third pick in the draft, you know? Every high pick is gonna get a lot of money. I still haven’t done anything at the end of the day.”
Love added:
“My family is gonna benefit a lot from it. I’m gonna benefit a lot from it, but honestly, I’m not really too much worried about it. Like, I’m not gonna touch the money. I’m probably gonna just put it all away and live normally, like I’ve been doing now.
Really life-changing for my family. Let me help them out, take care of them, but as far as me, I’m not worried about it. I’m here to play football. You get paid a lot to do it. At the end of the day, I still gotta perform on the field. The money is there, which is a blessing. It’s a lot of money.”
Love’s NIL earnings from his three years at Notre Dame aren’t public knowledge, but a generational talent at one of the most prestigious programs in the country? Do the math.
Love emerged as a top NFL prospect over the past two seasons. In 2024, he rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on 6.9 yards per carry. Last season was more of the same: 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 6.9 yards per carry. Love is also a dynamic, reliable threat as a receiver.
Watch Love’s full presser below.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM.