The newest bird, Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley could cap off one of the best running back seasons in NFL history this weekend in a Super Bowl battle against the Kansas City Chiefs. But before he steps onto the field in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome on Sunday, the newest member of the 2,000-yard rushing club was formally recognized at Thursday’s NFL Honors.
Although he was not present for these awards while he prepared for Sunday’s game, Barkley was named Offensive Player of the Year. The Eagles spotlighted their guy after the news became official, tweeting on X “Never a doubt.”
Barkley marked down 2,283 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns during the regular season, his first in Philadelphia, and showed people what he can do behind a capable offensive line.
He will try to put the finishing touches on his created masterpiece in the final game of the 2024-25 NFL season, and the most important. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, a known success at his job, is surely putting together a game plan designed to slow down the speed from Barkley and the Eagles offense.
When Barkley breaks into the secondary, he usually makes it down the field and into the end zone. If he can punish the two-time back-to-back champs in the same manner he has been doing in the regular season, the Eagles will have a great opportunity to hoist their second Lombardi Trophy.
The 27-year-old played through the remainder of his contract with the New York Giants, struggled to gain space behind a weak O-Line, and fought earnestly to disprove an ongoing narrative that running backs are replaceable. He found a perfect NFL home in Philadelphia, revitalizing an offense that had lost its way a bit in the latter half of 2023-24.
The 27-year-old former New York Giant played through the remainder of his contract with the New York Giants, where he struggled to gain space down the field behind a weak O-Line and fought an ongoing narrative that running backs are replaceable. He found a new & better chapter in Philly and rewrote the narrative for himself since being in New York. He helped revitalize an offense that had lost its way a bit in the latter half of the 2023-24 season.
Barkley’s name will be remembered in the NFL and Eagles following his historic season. And now he has the hardware to prove it: hoping for a Lombardi trophy, as well.
