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Saquon Barkley Raises Bar For Himself After 2,000-YD Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 11:04 AM ET

Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are ready to defend their throne as the defending Super Bowl champions. Following a season in which they weren't considered favorites to win it all, they have a target on their back.

Barkley was the face of the championship team, leading them to the No. 2 seed in the NFC with his 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries (becoming the ninth player to run for at least 2,000 yards in NFL history) and 13 touchdowns.

The former New York Giants star didn't stop in the playoffs, helping the Eagles move past the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders, respectively, to advance to the championship game.

Barkley had a discreet Super Bowl performance, but that wasn't an issue for his team, which crushed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win their second Vince Lombardi trophy.

In total, Barkley posted 2,857 yards from scrimmage and 482 carries in the regular season and postseason. He will enter his second season with the Eagles with renewed expectations, and his remarks on Tuesday put the rest of the league on notice.

Following his career year, Barkley decided to take things easier ahead of the 2025 season. The 28-year-old hasn't stopped preparing for the new challenges he'll face, but he's also given his body time to rest.

He told reporters that the heavy 2024 workload has been unnoticeable during he offseason.

“But the beauty of it is,” Barkley said, per NBC Sports. “I don’t know how many touches I had, nor how many yards, but it doesn’t feel like it. I feel really good."

More than that, Barkley declared he's entering his best years, while maintaining that he's hungry to keep learning and help his team as much as possible.

“I feel like I’m entering my prime. I just gotta continue to have the mindset of listening to everyone, buying into whatever they want me to do. Whatever they want me to do, try to do it at the best of my ability.”

The Eagles have a stacked roster, despite the changes they underwent during the offseason. They added new pieces in free agency and via the draft, solidifying their case as the favorite to win Super Bowl LX.

Barkley won the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year award, but if he continues or improves his level of performance, his case for the MVP award may become stronger.

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

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