Saquon Barkley will make his first-ever Super Bowl appearance against the reigning NFL champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9. After an incredible regular season and what could possibly be a record-breaking year for the Eagles RB, he would like to finish the season as a champion.
Let’s look at Barkley’s 40-time and fastest speed in games ahead of Super Bowl 59.
What Was Saquon Barkley’s Fastest Speed?
Barkley raised his stock right before the 2018 NFL Draft. The Eagles RB ran the 40-yard dash in a mere 4.4 seconds. His monstrous performance also included 29 reps of 225-pound bench press. The New York Giants picked him as the 2nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
First 40 attempt from RB Saquon Barkley:
4.41 😱 #NFLCombine
📺 @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/xIKPz0iuC7
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 2, 2018
However, Barkley won’t be the fastest man on the gridiron in the Super Bowl. He will be up against the Chiefs Xavier Worthy, who finished the 40-yard dash in an unbelievable 4.21 seconds.
The 28-year-old’s speed has been a headache for the opposition throughout the season. But Barkley’s former team received the most heat from the superstar. In his return to MetLife Stadium, the RB hit 21.93mph during his 55-yard run against the New York Giants. The Eagles crushed the Giants 28-3 in that game.
The Eagles RB had an incredible regular season. He led the league in rushing yards with 2,005 yards and became only the ninth player to fetch over 2,000 rushing yards in a season. He is 30 yards away from snatching the record for the most rushing yards in a season (regular + postseason), currently held by Terrell Davis (2,476).
Barkley charted 46 explosive runs, including 11 in which he breached the 20mph mark. He made the Los Angeles Rams regret every blink in the Divisional Round. He also matched his longest run of 78 yards in that fixture.
The former first-round pick decorated his already great season by running six 60+ yards touchdowns, becoming the first player to achieve the feat. He can tie Barry Sanders and Terrell Davis for the most 100-yard rushing games in a season (14) if he rushes for over 100 yards against the Chiefs.
Barkley signed a three-year contract worth $37.75 million with the Super Bowl 52 champions. After signing with the Eagles in the offseason, he has been everything they’ve hoped for and more.
Barkley will join the rare club of players who have played in the Super Bowl on their birthday when he takes the field on Sunday. He will aim to take home the prestigious trophy and prevent Patrick Mahomes and Co. from completing a three-peat.
Kansas City’s defense has been solid all season, but stopping Barkley is a different challenge entirely. If he can dominate on the ground, the Eagles have a legitimate shot at controlling the tempo and keeping Mahomes on the sidelines. That could be the key to avenging their Super Bowl 57 loss and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.