National Running Backs Day
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Overview
National Running Backs Day is an unofficial NFL holiday honoring the ball carriers who take the hits and grind out yards. NBC's Sunday Night Football invented it on air during the San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons game on October 19, 2025, after the two teams' star backs, Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson, said running backs deserved some recognition. On its October 4, 2026 broadcast, NBC declared Sunday, October 11, the night of its Ravens at Falcons broadcast, as this year's National Running Backs Day.
Origin and story
With about 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of the 49ers' 20–10 win over the Falcons on October 19, 2025, play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico told viewers it was National Running Backs Day. McCaffrey and Robinson had both said running backs deserved their own day. "So, we said, why not?" Tirico explained. "So, today is National Running Backs Day. We've just determined that."
NBC had a prize ready: a pink robe and a "gold" chain with a brand-new logo, put together in the 48 hours before kickoff. McCaffrey scored a late touchdown to seal the win and earned the robe, then joked, "This might be the one time I wear it." In the booth, Cris Collinsworth asked, "Did we actually pay for that?" Tirico said the holiday could become an annual thing "or perhaps it'll have a one-night run."
It got a second run. During the October 4, 2026 broadcast, NBC declared National Running Backs Day again for the following Sunday's Ravens at Falcons game on October 11. There is no fixed date: the day goes to whichever Sunday-night game NBC picks.
Quick facts
- DateSunday, October 11, 2026
- TypeGames & Fun
- Great forFootball fans, Fantasy players, Watch parties
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
National Running Backs Day is a night for the players who carry the ball 20 times a game and take a hit on almost every carry.
Watch the Sunday night game
Celebrate by:
- Watching Ravens at Falcons on NBC or Peacock on Sunday, October 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
- Keeping a running tally of rushing yards for both backfields and crowning your own winner when the game ends.
- Rewatching McCaffrey's game-sealing touchdown from the first National Running Backs Day in 2025.
Play the fantasy angle
- Start every running back you can on Sunday. It's their day.
- Run a running-backs-only pick'em with friends: whoever picks the top rusher of the night wins.
Throw a robe-and-chain watch party
- Copy NBC's prize: hand a pink robe (or any bathrobe) and a plastic gold chain to the guest whose pick runs for the most yards.
- Serve game-day food like nachos and wings, then switch to a different snack after every rushing touchdown.
Learn the story
Helpful resources:
- NBC introduces National Running Backs Day on SNF (Awful Announcing)
- NBC announcers roast their own network for 49ers-Falcons stunt (Yahoo Sports)
Did you know?
National Running Backs Day borrows the idea from National Tight Ends Day. George Kittle helped spark that one on a 49ers sideline in 2018, and the NFL made it official on the fourth Sunday of October starting in 2019.
Fun facts
- Mike Tirico announced the very first National Running Backs Day with about 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of the 49ers-Falcons game on October 19, 2025.
- The idea came from the players themselves: Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson both said running backs deserved some recognition.
- NBC's prize was a pink robe and a "gold" chain with a brand-new logo, put together in the 48 hours before kickoff.
- McCaffrey won the first robe after scoring a late touchdown to seal San Francisco's 20–10 win, then joked, "This might be the one time I wear it."
- It follows National Tight Ends Day, which the NFL has observed on the fourth Sunday of October since 2019.
Sources and attribution
NBC introduces National Running Backs Day on SNF (Awful Announcing)
NBC announcers roast their own network for 49ers-Falcons stunt (Yahoo Sports)
Falcons vs. 49ers highlights: McCaffrey outduels Bijan (FOX Sports)
2026 NFL Sunday Night Football schedule (FBSchedules)
George Kittle and the evolution of National Tight Ends Day (49ers.com)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Running Backs Day?
- In 2026, National Running Backs Day is Sunday, October 11, the night NBC's Sunday Night Football airs Ravens at Falcons. It has no fixed date: the first one was October 19, 2025, and NBC picks the night.
- What is National Running Backs Day?
- National Running Backs Day is an unofficial NFL holiday honoring running backs. NBC's Sunday Night Football invented it on air during the 49ers-Falcons game on October 19, 2025, after Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson said running backs deserved their own day.
- Who won the first National Running Backs Day?
- Christian McCaffrey. He scored a late touchdown in the 49ers' 20–10 win over the Falcons on October 19, 2025, and took home NBC's pink robe.
- How do people celebrate National Running Backs Day?
- Watch the Sunday Night Football game, start your running backs in fantasy, and crown whichever back has the best night with a robe of your own.
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