Why are physical sports (such as football) held in higher regard than eSports?

1. Traditional sports have tradition - American football have a long history, the first game considered as the first american football match happened in 1869! American football has over 100 years to develop into a professional game with a really great show aroung. Sponsors and fans are not just paying for the game or players but also for the show.
2. Physical sports are dangerous - You are risking serious injures and you are literally destroy you body if you are not carefull. Of course you have more reward when you are risking more, just for an example see a pro cyclists’s leg after a stage.
3. You have limited time in physical sports - In National Football League the average age of a player is 26.6, so over 35 you are considered as old player (note it also depends on position). In soccer after 35 years you are starting your retirement: first you play in weeker leagues and after just for hobby or marketing purposes. In esports there isn’t any age limit, of course you will find charts that say esports players are younger, but the whole phenomena is just 20 years old (started with Starcraft Brood War) compering with the American football which is 98 years old.

The most important message I want to share with you, that this whole situation might change in the next 50 years and yes there will be esports which will be more rewarding than physical sports nowadays.