NEW ORLEANS — Eagles running back Saquon Barkley thought he would be with the New York Giants for life.
He envisioned the day his name would be in the team’s Ring of Honor. But things changed when he was allowed to reach free agency and he signed with the Eagles this past offseason.
Now, Barkley has helped carry the Eagles to Super Bowl LIX, where they will face the Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Caesar’s Superdome.
“Yeah, I’ve definitely thought about that,” Barkley said. “That is what you want to do when you go to a place. You want to leave a legacy. The kind of best example is when you think of Marshall Faulk, do you think of the Colts or the Rams?”
If Barkley keeps rushing for 2,000 yards, he’ll be more of an Eagle.
“So, that’s my goal,” Barkley said. “I wish (getting to the Ring of Honor) would have happened the first six years I had in New York. But also I still can feel that honor here.”
Barkley rushed 345 times for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. In three playoff games, he rushed 66 times for 442 yards and five touchdowns.
He was only 101 yards from breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season record or 2,105 rushing yards, which was set in 1984, but he didn’t play in the season finale.
He needs only 30 yards in the Super Bowl to break Hall of Famer Terrell Davis’ record for the most yards in a season — regular season and playoffs. In 1998, the former Georgia Bulldogs standout rushed 470 times for 2,476 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Barkley’s signature has been his long touchdown runs, which includes a 72-yarder in the regular season. In the NFC Championship game, on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, Barkley gathered a toss and blazed through the Commanders defense for a 60-yard touchdown.
Barkley is quick to credit the Eagles’ massive offensive line, which features three Pro Bowlers in right tackle Lane Johnson, center Cam Jurgens and left guard Landon Dickerson. (Dickerson started at center in the NFC Championship game with Jurgens out with a back injury. Both have said they’ll play in the Super Bowl.)
“So much love, man,” Barkley said. “I know that you don’t rush for 2,000 (yards). You don’t do it by yourself. That’s why I love this sport. It is the ultimate team sport. I have the best offensive line in league. It’s probably one of the best offensive lines ever.”
The Eagles also have left tackle Jordan Mailata and right guard Mehki Becton, a castoff from the Jets.
“You can make an argument because I firmly believe they are best line,” Barkley said. “I stand on that.”
Before each game, Barkley gets the big guys riled up.
“I let them know that they are the best in the world,” Barkley said. “So, whatever we call, you got to do your job.”
Then he’ll do the rest.
“It’s super fun because he can make you right, and he can make you look like superstars,” Mailata said. “He makes us look like superstars. It’s super fun.”
The linemen love the long runs.
“I’m thinking ‘Thank God,’” Mailata said. “Oh, I really am thinking, ‘Thank God’ because I get to go sit ... on the bench. I get to sit down on the bench. It’s so cool when he takes one to the house to end the drive early.”
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has enjoyed have Barkley on the offense.
“He’s a great player,” Hurts said. “Great player. Great talent, great leader and great presence. He’s very passionate about the game. I think when you watch him play, you see that. Accompanying him with the offensive line we have and the team we have, I think it’s been very special for us. It’s been a been a big boost for us.”
Barkley has been enjoying his first trip to the Super Bowl.
“I think not just for me, but just for the team, understanding that it’s a business to have fun, embrace it, especially early in the week,” Barkley said. “But when it’s time to go to work, it’s time to go to work.”
He believes the Eagles are handling the Super Bowl hype.
“We’re taking it all in,” Barkley said. “Even if, whether it’s the media like, “Man, I got have to go do this opportunity to expand your platform. But when it’s time to play the game, when it’s time to be in practice, when it’s time to be with the team we have to make sure that we are locked in and focused.”
Coming out of Penn State, Barkley was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft.
“Penn State has been everything for me,” Barkley said. “That’s the reason why I went there. Even if I didn’t turn out to be an NFL player or player on the biggest stage, I knew that alumni there would be a great spot for me for after football.”
He was part of the reboot of the school after multiple scandals.
“But yeah, being there during that tough time kind of being part of a team that helped bring Penn State back, put Penn State back on the map,” Barkley said. “Taught me so much, taught me so much about adversity. Taught me so much about never quitting and just continue to believe in the program, continue to have faith. I was happy to be a part of Penn State, and I wear that proudly.”
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