The stage is set for Super Bowl 59, and while all eyes will be on Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, another storyline is quietly taking shape — one that could rewrite the record books. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia’s star running back, is just 29 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record (including playoffs) held by Hall of Famer Terrell Davis.
In today’s pass-heavy NFL, it’s not often a running back steals the spotlight, but Barkley has forced fans to notice him all season long. For most of the 2024-25 season, he has been the heart and soul of the Eagles’ offense. And now, on the biggest stage in sports, he has a chance to make history.
Saquon Barkley’s Dominant Season
During the regular season, Barkley ran for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging nearly six yards per carry. But instead of pushing to break Eric Dickerson’s regular-season rushing record, he sat out Week 18 to gear up for a push for a Lombardi Trophy. That decision seems to be paying off now with the Eagles just 60 minutes away from winning their second Super Bowl.
Barkley took his game to another level once the playoffs kicked off. In just three postseason games, he’s run for 442 yards and five touchdowns, bringing his season total to 2,447 rushing yards — just shy of Davis’ record of 2,476 from 1998. A record that once seemed untouchable is now on the verge of being broken, and Saquon didn’t even need the extra 17th game in the regular season to get this close.
NFL Single-Season Rush Record
The names at the top of the single-season rushing list read like a who’s who of NFL greatness. Davis sits at the top thanks to his dominant 1998 campaign that ended with a Broncos Super Bowl win. Other legends like Dickerson and Adrian Peterson also had monster seasons, but their teams fell short in the playoffs, preventing them from climbing higher on the list.
| Player | Rushing yards | Season | Team |
| Terrell Davis | 2,476 | 1998 | Broncos |
| Saquon Barkley | 2,447 | 2024 | Eagles |
| Terrell Davis | 2,331 | 1997 | Broncos |
| Eric Dickerson | 2,212 | 1984 | Rams |
| Adrian Peterson | 2,196 | 2012 | Vikings |
Barkley’s 118-yard, three-touchdown performance in the NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders was the kind of game that defines legacies. Now, with one win separating him from a title, all he needs is a couple of solid runs to break Davis’ NFL record.
But the real question is: Will he stop at 30 yards, or will he run wild on the Chiefs’ defense and put this record out of reach for years to come?
On paper, Kansas City’s defense has been solid, but stopping Barkley is another challenge entirely. Defenses have thrown everything at him all season, and none of it has really worked. Do the Chiefs have a special surprise to stuff Saquon’s record attempt, or will his mix of patience and explosiveness allow him to find gaps, break tackles, and turn their dreams of winning three straight Super Bowls into nightmares?