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Chiefs Stud Calls Out Eagles, Saquon Barkley Ahead of Super Bowl

By Chris Schad

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario during Saquon Barkley’s first season with the team. The Eagles poached Barkley from the New York Giants by signing him to a three-year, $37.75 million contract in free agency last spring and he responded by leading Philadelphia to the Super Bowl for the second time in the past three seasons.

But even though Barkley has been successful with his new team, a key member of the Kansas City Chiefs believes he could have done more and called out the star running back before their matchup in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday evening.

Chiefs Star Charles Omenihu Calls Out Saquon Barkley For Not Pursuing Rushing Record

Chiefs edge rusher Charles Omenihu sounded off on Barkley during Super Bowl Opening Night, criticizing him for not pursuing Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record in the final game of the season. While Barkley was within reach from Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set in 1984, he decided to sit out the season finale against his former team and finish the year with 2,005 yards.

“He should have broken the record,” Omenihu said via CBS Sports’s Jeff Kerr. “He could have had it if he wanted to.”

Barkley’s pursuit of Dickerson’s record was a key storyline leading up to a meaningless finale against the Giants. The 100-yard gap between Barkley and Dickerson’s record was a mark that Barkley reached 14 times during the course of the season including a 176-yard performance in a win over New York on Oct. 20.

But while even Barkley's father questioned the decision not to play there were some factors involved.

Breaking the record in the Eagles’ 17th game would have put an asterisk next to his performance as Dickerson only needed 16 games to set his mark 40 years ago. There’s also the fact the Eagles already had the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs sewn up and putting the three-time Pro Bowler out there would have been a reckless decision ahead of their run to the Super Bowl.

Even with sitting out the final game, Barkley is a candidate for the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Award and could become the first running back to win the Most Valuable Player Award since Adrian Peterson in 2012 later this week. The 27-year-old can also still make history as his 2,447 rushing yards including the playoffs is 30 yards shy of Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Terrell Davis’s record of 2,476 yards set in 1998.

While Barkley knows that mark is obtainable, he also knows Davis won the Super Bowl that year. That was his main motive when he decided to forgo a chance at Dickerson’s record and remains that way heading into Sunday night.

“All the records and stuff are cool,” Barkley said via USA Today’s Tyler Dragon. “The only thing that really matters is winning the Super Bowl.”

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