Saquon Barkley addressed his team’s decision let him rest in the final game of the season, missing out on the opportunity to break the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
The Philadelphia Eagles star told reporters on Wednesday that he was “down” amid a chance to break the league record against his former team, the New York Giants.
Barkley said he spoke to Head Coach Nick Sirianni about the decision after last Sunday’s win against the Dallas Cowboys, and wasn’t too excited about it at the time, but became more invested in breaking the record after sleeping on it.
Now he won’t get that chance and he’s not sure he ever will again.
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November 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs past Washington Commanders defenders en route to a 39-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn images)
“He asked me if I wanted to play if I wanted to go for it, I said on Sunday I probably didn’t care that much. When I slept about it, it was like it was an opportunity to implant my name.” in football history. (I) may never get an opportunity like this again, so I’m down, but at the end of the day I don’t care if we endanger the team,” Barkley said. footage obtained by 94 WIP sideline reporter Devan Kaney.
Barkley said he also told his family about the situation, and they wanted him to break the record even more than he did.
“Obviously I told my family. My family probably wanted it a little more than I did,” Barkley said.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Barkley said his father took the news the hardest.
November 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs off the field after a win against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn images)
Still, Barkley accepts the decision and invests more in his availability to help his team win in the playoffs.
“At the end of the day, winning football games and winning the playoffs is the most important thing, and I have a bigger goal in mind,” Barkley said.
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Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before the 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 shy of Eric Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson broke the record with 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.
Dickerson had twelve games with over 100 yards rushing that year to break OJ Simpson’s 1973 record of 2,003. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, but Barkley only has 345 carries this season. However, Dickerson also broke the record in fewer games than Barkley would play when he took the field on Sunday.
Barkley signed a three-year deal 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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