Philadelphia Eagles: Kenjon Barner just keeps winning rings

In 2020, the average age of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ running back corps was 24.

Their youngest player was Jason Huntley, who turned 22 just before the 2020 NFL Draft, and their oldest was actually a tie between Corey Clement and Jordan Howard, who were both born on November 2nd, 1994.

Why is this relevant? Well, outside of it being a fun fact, it puts the success of a former Eagles rusher, Kenjon Barner, into a particularly impressive context.

The 182nd overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Barner is one of only six active running backs in the NFL today who was born in the 1980s and holds the rare distinction of being the only one of the three who has won not one, not two, but three Super Bowls in his weirdly storied NFL career.

Is Barner the ‘Where’s Waldo’ of the NFL? Well, you tell me.

Kenjon Barner has succeeded a lot with the Philadelphia Eagles and elsewhere.

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Since being drafted in the sixth round out of Oregon, Kenjon Barner has played for seven different NFL teams; the Carolina Panthers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Philadelphia Eagles again, the Carolina Panthers again, the New England Patriots, the Carolina Panthers again again, the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens, and last but not least his most recent stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Over his tenures with said seven teams, Barner has never appeared in all 16 regular season games during any of his eight professional seasons and has been waived by every team he’s been signed to at least once.

When actually on the field, Barner has never recorded more than 171 total yards from scrimmage or 37 total touches, both of which were accomplished as a member of the Eagles in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Barner is one of the rare Eagles players who actually survived the transfer from the Chip Kelly regime to that of Doug Pederson, a pretty incredible accomplishment when you consider the two initially spent time together at Oregon, and it was Kelly who signed his former pupil to the active roster in 2015.

So, if Barner has never found much success as a rusher and never quite lived up to the pass-catching prowess he displayed with the Ducks, how has the Lynwood, California native remained steadily employed by winning team after winning team?

Two words: Special teams.

Since 2016, Barner has been one of the NFL’s better return men, initially as a kick returner during Doug Pederson’s debut voyage and then as a punt returner too during the following season. Though he’s only recorded one touchdown as a kick or punt returner, on a 78-yard return for the Falcons in 2019, Barner has remained in demand by successful teams looking for an edge in the return game and has been paid pretty handsomely for his services, having amassed $4.5 million for his efforts according to Spotrac.

Oh yeah, and he’s won not one, not two (déjà vu?), but three Super Bowl rings in his eight seasons as a pro, which *spoiler alert* is really impressive stuff.

Since earning his first ring alongside Carson Wentz, Zach Ertz, and company in 2017, Barner was awarded a ring for being a member of the New England Patriots for roughly two months in 2018 despite not actually appearing with the team during their Super Bowl run. From there, Barner spent a year with the Falcons in 2019 and attempted to find a home in the Charm City in 2020, but was ultimately beaten out for the team’s primary returner role by 2020 third-round pick Devin Duvernay.

But don’t feel too bad for Barner, as he landed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad and was eventually signed to the active roster before having his season prematurely ended with a trip to IR. Though Barner didn’t get to spend his Super Bowl on the field – he actually spent it hilariously sitting next to a cutout of “grumpy” Bernie Sanders – the 31-year-old was once again a member of a winning squad and will once again earn a ring for his efforts – even if his 242 all-purpose yards are the fewest he’s recorded since playing under Kelly in 2015.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLA9mcFBPA9/

Not a bad view for a soon-to-be member of the three rings club.

Next. WR Tyrell Williams could be a cheap FA addition. dark

Though it seems like a longshot that Kenjon Barner will be back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, as the team has a number of pressing free agents they’ll surely prioritize retaining over the 5-foot-9 return man, I wouldn’t be too concerned about his immediate future. Very few teams have a sure thing locked-up in the return game, and fewer still wouldn’t like to at least bring in some competition to get a competitive advantage in the third facet of the game. Who knows, maybe the Philadelphia Eagles could even be in play for Barner’s services, as they too may be looking for a punt returner if Boston Scott isn’t retained for the 2021 NFL season.

Either way, as for as long as Barner would like to play, it seems fairly likely that there will be a spot somewhere for his services.

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