PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley found himself in a unique situation following the recent game, as he typically would have given his game-used cleats to a young fan asking for them while heading back to the locker room.
However, this time, he had a special reason to hold onto those cleats. With a standout performance in the Eagles’ 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Barkley not only helped lead his team to victory but also made history by becoming the ninth running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
Barkley achieved this remarkable feat with a notable 23-yard run in the fourth quarter, bringing his season total to 2,005 yards with one game remaining. He now sits a mere 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s long-standing record of 2,105 rushing yards established in 1984 while playing for the Los Angeles Rams. After his impressive run, Barkley concluded the game with 167 rushing yards on 31 carries.
“We definitely made it a priority to reach 2,000 yards,” Barkley commented. “We weren’t going to leave this field without achieving that, and it reflects the determination of the guys blocking for me.”
Despite Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson expressing disapproval about the possibility of his record being broken, Barkley is poised to attempt doing just that in the upcoming game against the New York Giants.
However, much hinges on the decisions made by Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni, as the team has already secured the NFC East title and at least the No. 2 seed in the conference, which could make the next game largely inconsequential. There is a chance that Sirianni might choose to rest Barkley to avoid any potential injuries leading into the playoffs.
“Whatever decision he makes, I will support it,” Barkley said. “If he decides to go for it, we’ll try our best. If resting is the plan, I’m all in for that as well.”
Sirianni maintained a non-committal stance, stating simply, “We’ll see,” regarding the team’s strategy for the final game. Barkley chuckled when asked if he would like to break the record against his former team. “I’m not overly focused on getting it. I would definitely like to, but at the end of the day, we have bigger goals to accomplish.”
Barkley has the opportunity to chase the record due to the league’s extension of the season to 17 games, something that did not exist in 1984 when Dickerson set his record. The last running back to break the 2,000-yard mark was Derrick Henry, who accomplished the feat in 2020 with 2,027 yards for the Tennessee Titans. Adrian Peterson holds the second-highest single-season total with 2,097 yards achieved in 2012.
Barkley’s performance thus far has also set a new NFL record for the most rushing yards by a player in their first season with a new team. He had an impressive debut against the Giants, finishing with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown.
“I didn’t come here just to rush for 2,000 yards or to break records,” Barkley asserted. “I came to Philadelphia with the intent to do something meaningful.”
Previously drafted from Penn State as the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, Barkley enjoyed significant success with the New York Giants, amassing 1,307 rushing yards in his rookie year. During his six-season tenure with the Giants, he has accumulated 5,211 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, and 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdown catches. He entered free agency after the Giants chose not to franchise tag him.
“I felt uncertain during that time,” Barkley shared, referring to his free agency experience. “You never know what’s next or where you might end up. Everything felt unpredictable.”
Now he has a clear objective: to capture a Super Bowl title and perhaps eclipse Dickerson’s record along the way. Dickerson, known for his iconic goggles and distinctive hairstyle, enjoyed a stellar career with seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons during the 1980s and is regarded as one of the finest running backs in the history of the sport. He concluded his career with a staggering 13,259 rushing yards, ranking ninth all-time in NFL history, while Emmitt Smith holds the overall record with 18,355 yards.
“I’m not sure if he’ll break it or not. If he does, he does,” stated Dickerson regarding Barkley. “Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I won’t sugarcoat that. But I’m not upset about it. He’s got 17 games to achieve it. That’s just the nature of football.”
Back in 1984, Dickerson proved his mettle by rushing for over 100 yards in 12 games, overthrowing O.J. Simpson’s previous record of 2,003 yards set in 1973 during a 14-game season. Simpson established his record long before the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978 and ultimately lengthened the season to 17 games in 2021.
Barkley concluded, “Given how football is structured today, it’s quite a challenge to rush for 2,000 yards in just 14 games. Regardless of whether it’s during 16 or 17 games, what I accomplished cannot be downplayed, especially considering the great support I received from my offensive line. And keep in mind, only eight other players have achieved this, making it a memorable achievement.”