---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a running back, when you get the ball…"
description: "\"As a running back, when you get the ball year after year - and I would say three years on the short end and seven on the long side - you reach a point ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/cris-carter-7029_body_as-a-running-back-when-you-get-the-ball_3184041.jpg"
---

#  As a running back, when you get the ball year after year…

![“As a running back, when you get the ball year after year - and I would say three years on the short end and seven on the long side - you reach a point where it seems like overnight, your body changes and you can't do what you used to do anymore. We see those drastic declines more at running back…” quote by Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/cris-carter-7029_body_as-a-running-back-when-you-get-the-ball_3184041.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/cris-carter-7029_body_as-a-running-back-when-you-get-the-ball_3184041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/cris-carter-7029_body_as-a-running-back-when-you-get-the-ball_3184041.jpg)

> “As a running back, when you get the ball year after year - and I would say three years on the short end and seven on the long side - you reach a point where it seems like overnight, your body changes and you can't do what you used to do anymore. We see those drastic declines more at running back than any other position.”

[Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Running backs experience rapid physical decline, especially after several years, more than other positions.

**In simple terms:** Running backs age quickly.

Key Takeaway

Plan for career transition early.

Themes

sports aging physical decline career planning

Mood

pragmatic realistic

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

- team roster decisions
- injury rehab
- post‑career education
- financial planning

Key Concepts

physiology longevity position demands

Questions to Reflect On

- What preventive measures extend peak performance?
- How should athletes prepare for post‑sports life?

A Different Perspective

Longevity varies; training can mitigate but not eliminate decline.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ball Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-year-5846128/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Running Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-ball-1311079/) [Running Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-position-424055/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-short-852070/)

## Related quotes

> [You kind of know what running plays you're going to get so it's not too much stress on learning the running back position. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/you-kind-of-know-what-running-plays-you-re-going-to-get-so-it-s-not/)

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> [I want to be an athlete. I'm not just a running back. I play the running back position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/i-want-to-be-an-athlete-i-m-not-just-a-running-back-i-play-the/)

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[Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/)

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> [I'll be running, the ball will be in the air and I'll feel like I've been in that moment before. It's basically deja vu,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davante-adams/i-ll-be-running-the-ball-will-be-in-the-air-and-i-ll-feel-like-i-ve/)

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> [You can't say somebody is a bust if they're making plays and running to the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-jackson/you-can-t-say-somebody-is-a-bust-if-they-re-making-plays-and-running/)

[Malik Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-jackson/)

> [At Barca we trained every day with the ball. I hardly even took a step running without a ball at my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/at-barca-we-trained-every-day-with-the-ball-i-hardly-even-took-a-step/)

[Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/)

> [I think running the ball effectively is the key to winning games in the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-henry/i-think-running-the-ball-effectively-is-the-key-to-winning-games-in/)

[Derrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-henry/)

> [I just think about running the ball and running down the field. I don't really worry about the miles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-henry/i-just-think-about-running-the-ball-and-running-down-the-field-i-don/)

[Derrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-henry/)

> [I just try to win the match by fighting for every point, and running down every ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/i-just-try-to-win-the-match-by-fighting-for-every-point-and-running/)

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> [There are a lot of guys that are really good at running the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-kuechly/there-are-a-lot-of-guys-that-are-really-good-at-running-the-ball/)

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[Michael Vick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-vick/)

## More by Cris Carter

> [People tend to look at mental health differently than physical health. If someone tears their ACL, we don't expect them to run 30 yards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/people-tend-to-look-at-mental-health-differently-than-physical-health/)

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> [I've always wanted to have a career that my kids would be able to see me play and understand what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-a-career-that-my-kids-would-be-able-to-see/)

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> [In life, we always make the right decisions the second time around, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/in-life-we-always-make-the-right-decisions-the-second-time-around-you/)

[Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/)

> [I'm a competitor at the highest level. I like to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-m-a-competitor-at-the-highest-level-i-like-to-compete/)

[Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/)

> [I would never tell young people to break the law or avoid prosecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-would-never-tell-young-people-to-break-the-law-or-avoid-prosecution/)

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> [There's not a whole bunch of options in America for a black man. But sports gives you that opportunity... So where would my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/there-s-not-a-whole-bunch-of-options-in-america-for-a-black-man-but/)

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> [Before, when going to youth camps, the line for QBs would be around the corner. Now, kids want to be either QBs or WRs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/before-when-going-to-youth-camps-the-line-for-qbs-would-be-around-the/)

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> [I used to have a log on every corner in the league, what their strengths and weaknesses are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-used-to-have-a-log-on-every-corner-in-the-league-what-their/)

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