Even after a dream first season in Philadelphia—shattering records, winning a Super Bowl on his birthday, and securing a historic contract extension—Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley is far from satisfied.
He remains driven to cement his legacy among the all-time greats.
“I want to be, if not the greatest running back of all time, one of the greatest,” Barkley said after signing his record-breaking $41.2 million contract extension. “I hope I’m able to do that in an Eagles uniform.”
The money, the glory, the fame—even receiving the key to his hometown of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley—are all meaningful accolades. But that’s not why he plays. Barkley plays to win and to be great.
And he’s not done yet.
A Historic Season, but No Time to Slow Down
After six seasons with the New York Giants, Barkley arrived in Philadelphia with high expectations—and he exceeded them. In 2024, he led the NFL in rushing with 2,005 yards during the regular season, then added 499 postseason yards to set a new league record of 2,504 total rushing yards in a single season. His dominance earned him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Yet, despite these monumental achievements, Barkley refuses to rest on his laurels.
While his focus remains on getting back to the Super Bowl, he has yet to ramp up his offseason workout program. After a career-high 436 carries, including the playoffs, and an NFL high 378 total touches during the regular season, he’s prioritizing recovery—for now.
“It was a long season. I’m just listening to my body and creating a game plan,” Barkley said.
Come April, he plans to intensify his training to prepare for the 2025 season and defend the Eagles’ championship.
“Definitely fired up. Me and my family were fired up,” he said after signing his extension, expressing his commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in Philadelphia.
Always Striving for More
A big fan of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, Barkley has spoken with the Rams legend countless times. He’s well aware that Faulk cemented his legacy in St. Louis despite starting his career with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was drafted.
Similarly, Barkley sees room for improvement in his own game. This offseason, he’s focusing on ball handling, specifically becoming more comfortable carrying the ball in his left hand. It's, believe it or not, something he claims he struggles with.
Only a perfectionist gives everything they have for the game—and the city—they love.
“The love I have for this organization, wanting to be here a very long time, it’s mutual. The things I envision for the future, I think this is the best place for it,” Barkley said of his desire to remain an Eagle for the rest of his career.
Even after securing his lucrative extension, his hunger for more success remains evident. He’s not focused on spending the additional money—perhaps just a golf membership—but rather on at least four more years in Eagles midnight green.
It does not sound like the Eagles plan to pull back their star backs' workload. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said at the NFL Combine that they will take the same approach with Barkley they had last season - whatever it takes to win.
Barkley says he will find ways to adapt and find ways to win games.