Saquon Barkley’s Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans for the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday, Feb. 9. Super Bowl week began with the Opening Night event on Monday, Feb. 3.
Stars from both teams participated in interviews and interactions during the event. Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata cracked fans up with his hilarious responses. Let’s take a look at what Mailata said about blocking for Barkley.
Jordan Mailata on Blocking for Saquon Barkley
After six seasons with the New York Giants, Barkley left the team in free agency last offseason. He signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles. Fast forward to 11 months after Barkley arrived in Philadelphia, and the Eagles are set to play in the Super Bowl.
Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards in the regular season and has continued his form into the playoffs. He has rushed for 442 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 147.3 rushing yards per game in the postseason for Philadelphia.
A journalist asked Mailata what blocking for Barkley on a 60-yard touchdown feels like. The Eagles’ star seemed prepared for the question as he came up with a sarcastic answer.
“What is it like to block for a 60-yard touchdown? It feels amazing when, one, you don’t have to keep playing coz he has taken it to the house after only going 20 yards and then, two, you get a lot of break time,” he said.
“I feel sorry for our defense sometimes when Saquon takes it to the crib,” Mailata added.
Jordan Mailata on what it’s like blocking for Saquon on a 60-yard touchdown:
“It feels amazing… I feel sorry for our defense sometimes.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/NE7l8hTGZB
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 4, 2025
Barkley is one of nine players to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He also has a chance to break the record for most rushing yards ever in a season (including the playoffs) as he needs just 29 yards to tie this record (30 to break it).
The Eagles’ talented running back was crucial in Philadelphia’s 14-3 season. His performance has made the franchise’s run to the Super Bowl look easy.
The Eagles knocked the Green Bay Packers out in the Wild Card round. Philadelphia played its closest encounter in this postseason against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional round, moving to the NFC Championship Game with a 28-22 win. The Eagles crushed Jayden Daniels’ Washington Commanders to run away with the NFC Championship and punch their tickets to New Orleans.
The Chiefs can become the first franchise in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row if they defeat the Eagles. They ended the regular season with a 15-2 record, received a bye in the Wild Card Round, and won against the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game, respectively.
The Eagles’ offense relies heavily on Barkley, and the star running back will be required to be at his best in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ defense (2024 Defense+: 75.5, 14th), led by Chris Jones, has one of the best run defenses in the league, and they haven’t allowed any running back to rush over 100 yards throughout this season (Lamar Jackson is the only 100+ yard rusher vs. KC, Week 1).
