Saquon Barkley’s return to MetLife Stadium in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform was met with a chorus of boos from New York Giants fans. Once a fan favorite, the former No. 2 overall pick became Public Enemy No. 1 after signing with the Giants’ NFC East rivals during the 2024 NFL offseason.
LOUD LOUD boos for Saquon Barkley in his return to MetLife stadium…
pic.twitter.com/pFVHMt7nxy— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 20, 2024
The 27-year-old running back had years of loyalty, but Giants fans showed no mercy when Barkley touched the ball on his first carry, resulting in a mere one-yard gain. However, the reaction from fans online painted a different picture. Many criticized the Giants’ fanbase for its treatment of Barkley, with one fan tweeting, “Most insecure fans in the league lol.”
Giants Fans Boo Saquon Barkley in Return to MetLife
Another wrote, “The only people they should be booing is their front office. How dumb can these fans be?”
Support for Barkley was evident, with one user cheering him on, saying, “Make them pay!”
Another added, “Saquon gonna run all over the boys today.”
One fan wrote, “It’s the Giants fault they lost him 💀”
“I mean I dunno if I blame him..the Giants made him play [with] Daniel Jones all these years..🤣,” joked one user.
One fan tweeted, “He will teach them”
Barkley’s departure from New York in March earlier this year was filled with drama. At one point, he wanted to stay put, but the Giants reportedly didn’t offer him a contract, leaving him no choice but to join the Eagles.
Some saw his decision as a betrayal, but Barkley remained close with former teammates, including Jones and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Jason Kelce on Giants Fans Hating Barkley
Eagles legend and the elder of the Kelce brothers, Jason Kelce, spoke his heart out when discussing the Barkley situation, calling out Giants fans for misdirecting their anger.
While passionate fans blame Barkley for donning enemy colors, Kelce thinks they’re aiming their frustration at the wrong person.
“For the life of me, I don’t understand why Giants fans hate Saquon for what happened, and not the Giants organization for the fact he is an Eagle. They have absolutely no one to blame other than the Giants ownership and management decisions for why he is no longer a Giant,” Kelce wrote on X.
“Obviously understand their hate of the Eagles, and desire for him not to succeed, just very odd this energy is directed at him more so than the organization,” he continued.
For the life of me, I don’t understand why Giants fans hate Saquon for what happened, and not the Giants organization for the fact he is an Eagle. They have absolutely no one to blame other than the Giants ownership and management decisions for why he is no longer a Giant.… https://t.co/qnyTeLRJT1
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) October 20, 2024
Barkley secured a three-year, $37 million deal with Philadelphia (as per Spotrac), motivated by the Giants’ lack of an appealing offer. Yet, New Yorkers have turned on their former star instead of pointing fingers at their front office.