Saquon Barkley, entering the 2025 NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles, is aiming to shift the narrative around running backs in professional football. While recent league trends have devalued the position, Barkley references Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Barry Sanders as an example of creativity and skill that defies standard measurements. “Saquon tries to mimic [Sanders],” said Micah Parsons, Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher and Barkley’s close friend. “How he carries it. Like him.”
Barkley finds inspiration in Sanders’s uncoachable style and views his own position as an art form. “We are artists,” Barkley says. “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.” Reflecting on his own career path, Barkley maintains loyalty to teammates and football itself, stating, “My loyalty, in those conversations about Daniel, is to the game (…) If I thought he was trash, I’d say he’s not good (…) Did he struggle at times? Yeah, we all did there (…) But you see a lot of guys—and this isn’t a knock on the Giants, it’s not just that organization—but all around you see guys who may be at one place and struggle, and they go to another place and thrive.”
Coming off a championship season that coincided with his twenty-eighth birthday, Barkley describes celebrating both milestones before quickly shifting focus toward future goals. He emphasizes team achievement over personal records: “I don’t think there’s a better way to celebrate than [doing it as] a Super Bowl champion,” he says.
Regarding statistical accomplishments such as surpassing 2,000 rushing yards or chasing Eric Dickerson’s single-season record (2,105 yards in 1984), Barkley indicates such pursuits are secondary: “Chill-chill.” He stresses artistry over accolades.
When asked about the best single-season performance by a running back in league history—including campaigns from Dickerson or Terrell Davis—Barkley singles out Sanders again for his consistent excellence after a slow start in 1997: “Insane (…) Probably never gonna see it again.”
Barkley also comments on current league compensation patterns for running backs: “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].” However, he adds: “I’m not going to sit here and say there was colluding. I’m not going into all that. But football is football. If you cannot run the ball you’re done.”
Discussing team strategies and outcomes—including Kansas City’s use of its run game during multiple Super Bowls—Barkley reaffirms his view that ground attacks remain essential for championships: “[It] wasn’t like a diss to just me (…) It’s something they were trying to make up just so they can get players for cheaper value. And if you make that argument for running backs you can do that for any position in the NFL.”
Assessing his physical condition following several injuries throughout seven seasons—which cost him twenty-four games—Barkley counters ideas about athletic primes ending early for running backs by citing examples like Curtis Martin and Walter Payton who excelled later in their careers: “That [past prime] notion is so funny,” Barkley says. “It’s bunk, all the running-back-position-is-dying [stuff]. You got wide receivers who [teams] pay all this money to, and when they get into their 30s, they’re not performing at the highest level; you just never hear that. How many quarterbacks can you name who played into their later 30s? Everyone’s not Tom Brady. They have to let that go!”
Looking ahead at what motivates him now—beyond numbers or individual highlights—he points toward leadership techniques inspired by other athletes: “I’m trying to tap more into my Tiger side,” Barkley says (…)”Just being on the prowl,” he continues (…)”People automatically associate a hell of a year with numbers. That’s not what’s driving me.”
As preparations begin for another title run with new teammates on board after offseason changes—including coaching shifts—Barkley’s approach remains steady: “The Super Bowl is a prime example,” Barkley says (…)”I’m not getting off. And I’m not gonna go to the sideline and be like ‘We gotta do this [differently].’ That’s the beauty of the team we had last year…”
With expectations high but firmly centered on teamwork rather than individual awards or milestones—even as outside perception labels change—Barkley’s focus is clear: artistry over accolades.
