Jeremiyah Love on Being Picked 3rd Overall: ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’

Jeremiyah Love is not afraid of great responsibility. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him with their third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. At his introductory press conference on Friday, Love said he wants to be one of the greatest players in the sport and is ready to compete in a crowded running back room.

“So obviously, me being drafted number three to come to the Cardinals is a blessing,” he said.

“It’s a dream come true. But what I meant when I said I’m on the hunt for something greater is, [I] wanted to convey that I’m not complacent, I’m not satisfied from just getting here. I want to be a Hall of Famer by the end of my time playing. I want to be one of the greatest running backs to come through the game.

“So, I’m always on the hunt for something greater. And then even after football, I’m on the hunt for something greater. Go back to school and get my degree. I wanted to become a doctor before I played football. Throughout life, I’m always going to be on the hunt for something greater, and that’s just me, you know, that’s how I was raised.”

Spending a premium pick on a running back is becoming rare in the NFL. Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders took Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State with the sixth overall pick. In 2023, the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson out of Texas with the eighth pick. In 2018, the New York Giants took Saquon Barkley second overall.

While drafting a running back in the top 10 is rare, it usually pays dividends for the teams that draft them in terms of production and performance in key moments. That performance allows the rest of the offense to flourish.

“Running backs are very crucial for team success, and that’s why it’s very important to have a good one. So, I feel very honored to be drafted as high as I was. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that. Like I think Spider-Man said, ‘with great power comes great responsibility,'” Love said.

“So I am going to make sure that I uphold that legacy of having a good running back and allowing them to have great success, and I’m going to come in and work to do that.”

Love does come into an already crowded running back room. The Cards reworked James Conner’s contract, though he is only on the roster through this season. They added Tyler Allegier in free agency. They also have 2024 draftee Trey Benson and journeymen Zonovan “Bam” Knight and Corey Kiner on the roster.

But Love brings several key traits to the depth chart. The first of those is ball security. In three seasons at Notre Dame, Love only had one fumble, which was recovered by the offense. Love recounted how his running backs coach in his freshman year, Deland McCullough, put a beeper football in his hand during warm-ups at practice and told him to hold onto it all the way through. Throughout his career, Love kept the ball capped with his off hand. He said he would keep that mindset in the pros.

The other trait is his skill at pass protection. Love called it “the most important part of my game.” He said he often does “tune-ups” on his footwork and fundamentals, but spends most of his time in practice working on pass pro.

“You’ve got to be able to protect the quarterback so that he can have time to make plays,” he said. “And I like pass protection. I get to hit people. You know, people [are] always hitting me. So, whenever I get to deliver a blow, I’m going to take pride in that, and I’m [gonna] do the best of my ability to try to knock your head off. If I get a quarterback that is trying to run, I’m going to make sure I clear a path for him and put my body on the line for that … I’m a football player, end of the day.”

Love was asked which backs he models his game after. He admitted that he did not watch much football growing up, though his father put on Barry Sanders highlights for him to watch when he was young; he considers Sanders the best running back of all time. Recent players he enjoys watching include: Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions for his speed and burst; Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers for his recovery routine; Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens for his size and tough running; and Alvin Kamara for his jack-of-all-trades ability.