Saquon Barkley commented on the team’s decision to sit out the final game of the season, costing him the opportunity to break the NFL single-season rushing record.
The Philadelphia Eagles star told reporters Wednesday that he had “no intention” of coach Nick Sirianni’s decision not to play him in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Barkley said he spoke with Siranni about the decision after last Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, and although he wasn’t very enthusiastic at the time, he was more invested in breaking the record after sleeping on it.
Now he won’t get that chance and he’s not sure he’ll ever get it again.
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November 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs past a Washington Commanders defender for a 39-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. (Image by Eric Hartline-Imagn)
“He asked me if I wanted to go and play and I said I probably wouldn’t have minded on Sunday. When I slept in, it was like an opportunity to make my name. I may never get that opportunity again,” Barkley said.
Barkley said he told his family about the situation and they were more hoping to break the record than he was.
“I definitely told my family, they probably wanted it a little bit more than I did,” Barkley said.
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November 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Saquon Barkley (26) runs off the field after the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. (Image by Eric Hartline-Imagn)
Nonetheless, Barkley accepted the decision and became more invested in helping his team win the playoffs.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win football games and win the playoffs, but we have bigger goals in mind,” Barkley said.
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Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles watches before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on December 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Barkley, with 2,005 rushing yards this year, is 100 points behind Eric Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson broke the Los Angeles Rams’ record with 2,105 yards in 1984.
In 1984, Dickerson topped 100 yards rushing 12 times, breaking OJ Simpson’s 1973 record and giving Buffalo 2,003 yards rushing in a single season. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, while Barkley had 345 carries this season.
Barkley signed a three-year contract with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million total, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
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