Ever since the Philadelphia Eagles signed running back Saquon Barkley in free agency in March 2024, expectations have been high for a team that fell just short of winning it all against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57.
Well, consider those expectations surpassed. In his first season in the City of Brotherly Love, Barkley recorded a league-leading 2,283 scrimmage yards and finished third in MVP voting and won the Offensive Player of the Year award.
Oh, and the Eagles also claimed revenge for their defeat two years ago, destroying the Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl 59 in a game that was nowhere near as competitive as the final score indicated.
Odell Beckham Jr. Congratulates Saquon Barkley
Though Barkley, his fans, and his teammates have had plenty to say about the Eagles’ championship run, the words of one former teammate spoke volumes about the running back’s journey to the mountain top.
Taking to Instagram, Odell Beckham Jr. gave a hearty shoutout to his former teammate with the New York Giants.
Beckham and Barkley only played one season together with the Giants in 2018. And while Barkley won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and Beckham exceeded 1,000 receiving yards, the Giants faltered, finishing 5-11 and in last place in the NFC East.
In the subsequent offseason, the wideout was traded to the Cleveland Browns, leaving Barkley as the lone premier threat in New York’s talent-bereft offense.
Odell Beckham Jr. on Instagram: pic.twitter.com/UIl8emajvb
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 10, 2025
Beckham struggled to find his footing again after that, playing for the Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins in recent years. He did, however, win a Super Bowl title with the Rams in Super Bowl 56.
Following in OBJ’s footsteps, Barkley left the Giants last offseason for greener pastures, though he was able to do so of his own volition in free agency. As aforementioned, the move paid immediate dividends for both the running back and his new team, and now Beckham and Barkley can celebrate their world championships with other teams.
Barkley led the NFL in rushing attempts (345), rushing yards (2,005), and total yards (2,283). Going from one of the worst offenses in the league in the Giants to one of the best in the Eagles, Barkley’s efficiency skyrocketed. After averaging just 3.9 yards per carry in 2023, Barkley spiked to 5.8 ypc in 2024. It’s the first time he’s reached 5.0 ypc since his rookie year and, obviously, the highest rate of his career.
Though he wasn’t as effective in the Super Bowl, recording just 57 rushing yards on 25 carries, he did contribute in the passing game, adding 40 receiving yards on six receptions. Likewise, though his stats weren’t jaw-dropping, the Chiefs’ determination to stop him led to a lot of stacking the box, which in turn opened up easy passing lanes for quarterback (and Super Bowl MVP) Jalen Hurts.
Barkley has two years remaining on his current contract with the Eagles. As long as he’s in the backfield, Philadelphia should be considered a favorite to repeat their Super Bowl 59 performance next year and beyond.