Barry Sanders added his own spice to the NFL MVP debate. The legendary running back took to social media to endorse Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley and his offensive line for the 2024 MVP award.
Barry Sanders’ MVP Opinion Doesn’t Sit Well With NFL Fans
Sanders’ reasoning? Barkley’s 2,005 rushing yards, 278 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns in just 16 games make him one of the most impactful players of the season.
Sanders tweeted, “@PatMcAfeeShow is dead right. We rushed for 2053 yards in 1997 and they split the #MVP between Brett and I. I hope that [they] do that for @saquon and his line.”
.@PatMcAfeeShow is dead right. We rushed for 2053 yards in 1997 and they split the #MVP between Brett and I. I hope that do that for @saquon and his line.
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) January 7, 2025
This was a throwback to Sanders’ own shared MVP honor with Brett Favre in 1997. He raised an intriguing point about rewarding non-quarterbacks. But as much as Sanders’ take hails Barkley’s brilliance, not all fans agree with the idea. Social media erupted with opposite opinions. One fan wrote, “Barry, you’re the GOAT, but nah fam lol.”
Another fan said, “That is ridiculous. It isn’t mvps. It’s mvp. Oh and the difference between a good back and an elite running back is their line. Ask Emmitt Smith. Barry is the best back ever!”
“There’s no way in today’s society is that possible. It’s always this or that,” said one more fan.
One X user tweeted, “We already know that’s not happening.”
“I wish bro but there’s no chance they’re so qb driven it’s sick. They need just make it a qb award,” commented another.
“As time goes on, nobody will really remember the 2024-25 Eagles unless they win the Super Bowl. The Saquon record would have stood the test of time, this Eagles season will soon be forgotten,” tweeted another.
Adding to the debate, former Giants QB Eli Manning suggested Lamar Jackson deserves the honor. “Lamar’s stats — 41 touchdowns, four interceptions, over 4,000 passing yards, and 800 rushing yards — are unreal,” Manning said in an interview. “If you’ve played the best, you should win MVP.”
Jackson’s historic season includes becoming the first reigning MVP to toss 40 TDs the following year and posting the fourth-highest single-season passer rating ever. Jackson and Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen remain favorites for the MVP.
However, the 2,005 rushing yards this season make the Eagles RB just the ninth player in NFL history to break the 2,000-yard barrier. Many wonder if sitting out the season finale against his former team, the Giants, cost him a shot at Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record.
Whether Sanders’ vision of honoring Barkley and his offensive line gains seriousness or not, the 2024 MVP race has fans, analysts, and players buzzing.