The Philadelphia Eagles made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason when they secured Saquon Barkley from their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. The move instantly improved an already loaded roster, giving the Eagles a dynamic, every-down back to complement their high-powered offense. Barkley’s arrival wasn’t just a statement, it was a warning to the rest of the league that Philadelphia was going all-in on a Super Bowl run.
But what if things had played out differently? What if Barkley never put on midnight green and instead found himself in the Windy City? According to reports, the former Giants star came “pretty damn close” to signing with the Chicago Bears before ultimately choosing Philadelphia. It’s a revelation that raises an intriguing question: How different would 2024 have looked if Barkley had landed in Chicago instead?
How the Bears Nearly Landed Saquon Barkley
According to Patrick Finley, Chicago aggressively pursued Barkley in free agency, making a strong push to bring the two-time Pro Bowler to town. With a promising young quarterback set to lead the franchise and a revamped offense in the works, the Bears envisioned Barkley as the centerpiece of their ground attack.
𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: Before signing with the #Eagles, Saquon Barkley came “pretty damn close” to signing with the #Bears, via @patrickfinley
The Bears ended up signing D’Andre Swift. What could’ve been…
Read More Here: https://t.co/hYvcRDHHpw pic.twitter.com/NVl7dqsDdt
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 4, 2025
But when the dust settled, Barkley chose Philadelphia, and the Bears pivoted, signing D’Andre Swift instead. Swift is a talented running back in his own right, but he doesn’t bring the same level of explosiveness, versatility, or game-changing ability that Barkley does.
A Tale of 2 Running Backs
Statistically, there’s no question about who had the better season. Barkley thrived in the Eagles’ system, putting together a monster year that saw him rush for over 2,000 yards. His combination of power, vision, and breakaway speed made him an unstoppable force, turning Philadelphia’s offense into a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Swift, meanwhile, had a solid year for Chicago but didn’t come close to Barkley’s dominance. While he provided reliability and flashes of explosiveness, his production as a rusher was less than half of Barkley’s this season. For Caleb Williams, a young quarterback entering the league, having Barkley in the backfield would have been a massive advantage.
Would the Eagles Be in Super Bowl 59 Without Barkley?
It’s easy to wonder how different things would be if Barkley had chosen Chicago. Would the Bears have been a legitimate playoff contender with him in the backfield? Probably not because it’s the Bears, who had an Offense+ of 64.0 (30th) in 2024, but would Philadelphia have been as dominant without him?
READ MORE: Philadelphia Eagles — Why Super Bowl 59 Will Be Different Than Super Bowl 57
With Barkley, the Eagles became a juggernaut, steamrolling through the NFC en route to Super Bowl 59. His ability to control games on the ground, wear down defenses, and create explosive plays made life easier for Jalen Hurts and opened up the passing attack. If Barkley had ended up in Chicago, it’s fair to question whether Philadelphia’s season would have played out the same way.