Saquon’s story includes 2,000 yards, a viral highlight run, golf with a president and Philly Sports Writers Athlete of the Year recognition
By Dan Gelston, Associated Press
Saquon Barkley golfed with Barack Obama. He chased Eric Dickerson. He pulled off a move so eye-popping it was immediately inserted into a video game.
With apologies to Bryce Harper or Pete Rose and a short list of others, Barkley had about as great a first year with a Philadelphia team as any free agent in the city’s sports history.
Barkley finished with 2,005 yards rushing, just 101 shy of breaking Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. He became only the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 in a season and set the Eagles’ single-season franchise record for scrimmage yards. And it put him in the conversation for the NFL’s MVP Award.
His run for the record book helped the Eagles clinch the NFC East and his all-around play is a major reason why Barkley is the 2024 PSWA Professional Athlete of the Year.
Barkley was embraced immediately by fans who had mostly booed him during the first six seasons of his NFL career with the rival New York Giants. He hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on him and then he signed a three-year deal with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed, and $37.75 million overall, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
His free agency was chronicled by the reality sports documentary television series “Hard Knocks.” In a crucial scene, Giants general manager Joe Schoen told Barkley the Giants would not make him an offer, nor stick the franchise tag on him, allowing Barkley to test the free-agent market.
“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” team owner John Mara said to Schoen in the series.
Barkley stole the show in his Eagles debut, rushing for 109 yards and he scored on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and 2 yards in a 34-29 win over the Packers in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil. And he never slowed down, bulldozing past LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrook and Wilbert Montgomery for the best season by a running back in team history.
Barkley ran for 147 yards against New Orleans. He stuck it to the Giants with 176 yards rushing in a win. Barkley stamped the Eagles a true Super Bowl contender when he ran for touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards against the Los Angeles Rams and finished the game at SoFi Stadium with a career-high 255 rushing yards.
“I think he just has tons of fun, brings a smile to everyone’s face,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “Just the way he plays the game; … the teammate that he is, it’s what makes him really special.”
In his boundless pursuit to learn, Barkley took the rare opportunity in October to play golf with a president to ask Obama about leadership.
And how about that play in November against Jacksonville? No Eagles fan will forget it.
Barkley had little choice after a nasty spin move left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump — make it, leapfrog – backward. Barkley’s rear end sailed over Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones’ lowered head in an extraordinary hurdle that had mouths agape around the NFL. The reverse hurdle was quickly added to the video game, Madden 25.
It’s all just part of the Saquon Story.
“That’s been my whole message this whole year is being consistent,” Barkley said. “Rushing for 2,000 yards and the success I’ve had is not an accident. There’s a reason why, and I’m going to continue to stay on that script, continue to stay on that schedule, and stay locked into that mindset, and get ready for whatever comes up next.”