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Arkansas Razorbacks Legend Darren McFadden Sends Grateful Message One Day After Prestigious Honor

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Oct 19, 2025 5:33 PM ET

Key Points:

Darren McFadden sent a message to Arkansas fans
McFadden was honored Saturday
The Razorbacks' schedule lightens up next week

The Arkansas Razorbacks lost a heartbreaker to the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday by a score of 45-42 that included a tough luck comeback effort as the Hogs outscored A&M 15-7 in the final quarter.

The loss obscured an otherwise exciting day for fans of interim coach Bobby Petrino's program that included a tribute to one of the best players in team history, former superstar running back Darren McFadden.

McFadden, who played ten NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, left Arkansas as the team's all-time leading rusher in 2007.

He had a heartfelt message for Razorbacks nation on Sunday after the smoke cleared on an eventful day in Fayetteville.

Former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is honored during the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Auburn defeated Arkansas 52-10. © Jake Crandall, Montgomery Advertiser via Imagn Content Services, LLC

McFadden's Message to Hogs Faithful

McFadden had a five-word message that quickly summed up how he felt about Saturday.

The former Razorbacks star was honored at halftime of the game and by Razorbacks players Cam Ball and Ja'Kayden Ferguson, who each wore 'DM' patches in honor of McFadden.

"The honor of a lifetime," McFadden wrote on his X page in memory of the exciting day.

The honor of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/RWdmRijRnx
— Darren McFadden (@dmcfadden20) October 19, 2025

McFadden Speaks on Prestigious Honor

McFadden was excited to see the patch in his name on the Razorbacks' uniforms.

"Anytime you see that patch with that DM on there and you see that silhouette, I can almost remember the image," McFadden said.

"It took me probably up until about three or four years ago to really reflect .. and realize like, 'Man, you really left a hell of a mark on the state of Arkansas and Arkansas football," the Little Rock native said.

"I never looked at myself as this Darren McFadden guy. Everybody back home calls me D-Dog.

"To me, I'm just little ole D-Dog running around."

Arkansas Schedule Lightens Up

The Razorbacks' tough loss to the top five ranked Aggies will now give way to a lighter schedule down the stretch of the season.

Home games against Auburn and Mississippi State will be followed by road games against LSU and Texas.

Arkansas showed the fight of a championship contender on Saturday, bringing pride to the heart of one of its most recognizable players.

At 2-5 and 0-3 in the SEC, time is running out for Petrino's team to stake its claim as a worthy bowl game participant, but every rep and every quarter counts now that the program appears to be in full rebuild mode again with its brightest and best watching and rooting for better results.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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