Saquon Barkley, running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, shared his thoughts on the evolution of his position and its significance in the NFL in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. Barkley addressed perceptions about the declining value of running backs, contrasting prevailing narratives by emphasizing their continued impact.
Barkley pointed to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders as an example of artistry at the running back position. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher and close friend to Barkley, said, “Saquon tries to mimic [Sanders], (…) How he carries it. Like him.” According to Parsons, both Sanders and Barkley possess unique playing styles shaped by genetics, training, and mastery that cannot be replicated.
During training camp discussions with Sports Illustrated, Barkley recounted stories from Sanders’s football career: “Imagine that!” referring to a high school coach who did not fully appreciate Sanders’s style.
Reflecting on the Super Bowl and his own athletic highlights—including a standout leap against Jacksonville—Barkley described himself as an artist on the field. He stated, “We are artists (…) That’s the running back position. It’s art. I don’t think anyone can create a better [body of work] than Barry Sanders. The best artist of all time.”
Barkley also spoke about loyalty in sports, especially regarding quarterback Daniel Jones: “My loyalty, in those conversations about Daniel, is to the game (…). If I thought he was trash, I’d say he’s not good. It’s not like I’m blowing smoke. I was around him. I know the work he put in. Did he struggle at times? Yeah, we all did there (…) all around you see guys who may be at one place and struggle, and they go to another place and thrive.”
He celebrated winning his first NFL championship and turning 28 on Feb. 9: “I don’t think there’s a better way to celebrate than [doing it as] a Super Bowl champion,” Barkley said.
Assessing running back achievements through NFL history, Barkley explained that although other seasons were impressive—including Eric Dickerson‘s record campaign—he considered Sanders’s 1997 season unmatched: “Insane (…) Probably never gonna see it again.”
On changes in compensation for running backs across the league due to injuries among highly-paid players previously tagged by franchises—including himself—Barkley commented: “Now you have owners and GMs trying to find great players for cheaper value (…). That’s what it all was. I got tagged. Josh Jacobs got tagged [by the Raiders].” He added quickly: “I’m not going to sit here and say there was colluding (…) But football is football. If you cannot run the ball, you’re done.”
Addressing criticism over statistics or narratives minimizing the importance of strong rushing games for championship teams such as Kansas City or Philadelphia itself during their Super Bowl wins, Barkley argued these outcomes reinforce rather than weaken his point about effective run games contributing directly to titles.
Regarding his personal development after injuries throughout seven seasons—which led him to miss 24 games—Barkley rejected narratives suggesting diminished prospects for older running backs relative to players at other positions: “That [past prime] notion is so funny (…) It’s bunk (…). They have to let that go!”
Describing mental preparation strategies including visualization exercises suggested by team psychologists—with references ranging from Black Panther imagery to Tiger Woods—Barkley summed up his approach as focusing more on team success than personal records or accolades.
Micah Parsons predicted further success for Barkley’s career with Philadelphia stating: “The Giants never really built around him (…) He’s ready to show people how good he is.”
Looking ahead toward another season where adaptability remains key amidst roster changes around him—both due departures and shifts in coaching staff responsibilities—Barkley’s goals remain centered on contributions that benefit his team above individual performance markers.
