Why new Seahawks RB Price passed up more money to stay at Notre Dame

The Seattle Seahawks like players who aren’t afraid of competition, and they appeared to get that sort of player with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.

The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall. Price was just one of two running backs selected in first round. The other was his college teammate, Jeremiyah Love, who went No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

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While at Notre Dame, Price shared backfield duties with Love, but he was the No. 2 option behind a player many viewed as the most talented player in college football last season.

Price and Love finished as the national title runner-up together during the 2024 season. Afterwards, Price had opportunities to elsewhere for a bigger role and more NIL money, but he spurned those offers to remain with the Fighting Irish.

Price joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Friday morning and discussed why he stuck around at Notre Dame in an era when players are quick to flee for more money and opportunity.

“I committed to Notre Dame and it’s the best decision in my life, really,” Love said. “I wanted to finish my degree, I wanted to come back and compete for a national championship and I wanted to prove to myself that I was just as good as the best running back and the best player in college football. I made that challenge to myself and I had to trust my gut, and look where we are now.”

Price said schools from his home state of Texas and Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels were among those interested in prying him from Notre Dame.

Turning down the type of money he was being offered after the 2024 season wasn’t an easy decision for Price. He was raised by a young single mother of three who was diagnosed with breast cancer when Price was Young. Price said his mother, Jessica Butler, was moved to tears when hearing the type of offers he was getting to go elsewhere.

“It’s bad when you when you don’t come from much and then your mom hears the offer they’re giving you up front,” he said. “… I felt some type of way when I had to tell her I have a plan and I want to stay at Notre Dame, even though I’m going to be making half of what this life-changing money is, but I feel like that plan is working.”

Seahawks pick Jadarian Price says he’s ‘coming to the right offense’

Price said he draws inspiration from his mother, who is now 11 years cancer free.

She was “still able to attend games, still able to take me and my sisters to practices and motivate us to be better and do better than what she did,” he said. “So, I give all my hats off to her, and she’s my rock and I wouldn’t be here without her.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or watch the video at the top of this post. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

Seattle Seahawks and NFL Draft coverage

• Rams’ McVay didn’t seem excited about pick of QB Simpson
• Brock: What separated Price from Seahawks’ other RB draft options
• Draft Reaction: Seahawks’ pick of RB Price a merge of talent, need
• For third straight year, an OL from WA drafted in first round
• Brock: Rams’ QB pick at No. 13 overall a gift to Seattle Seahawks

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