The Atlanta Falcons’ offseason overhaul sent Tyler Allgeier out the door, and now the former running back is headed into another familiar spot: the backup role.
Allgeier signed a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency after four seasons in Atlanta. At first, the move looked like a chance for him to step into a starting job for the first time since his 1,000-yard rookie season. Then Arizona used the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jeremiyah Love, and the depth chart flipped.
That shift didn’t stop Allgeier from landing a nod on ESPN’s All-Backup Team, where Bill Barnwell pegged him as the starter at running back.
"Allgeier might have expected to be the starter in Arizona after he signed there in free agency, only for the Cardinals to use their first-round pick on Jeremiyah Love," wrote ESPN's Bill Barnwell. "The Falcons rotated Allgeier and Bijan Robinson by possessions as opposed to situations, so Allgeier is entirely capable of playing on all three downs. He's a perfectly viable starting back."
In Atlanta, Allgeier put together a productive run across four seasons, piling up 2,876 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. His biggest year came as a rookie in 2022, when he ran for 1,035 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per attempt.
That early surge was quickly followed by the Falcons drafting Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall pick in 2023. The two backs formed what was described as arguably the best backfield duo in the NFL for a couple of years.
Now Atlanta has moved on again, signing Brian Robinson Jr. to take Allgeier’s place in 2026. Robinson brings more versatility, but the Falcons may still miss Allgeier’s physical style between the tackles.
Allgeier wasn’t the only former Falcon to show up on ESPN’s list. Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and former Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez also made the All-Backup Team.
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