Saquon Barkley's inspiration to make history comes from a golfing legend

Inspiration can come from anything, from a simple object to a person. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is using one of the best athletes of all time for inspiration to make history.

Last year, Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in the regular season as he finished at 2,005 yards. He would go on to break the NFL record for rushing yards in a regular season and playoffs with 2,504 yards .

The reigning Offensive Player of the Year Award winner is now focused on doing something no other running back has ever done: go back-to-back years with 2,000 rushing yards. Who is Barkley turning to for inspiration? Tiger Woods.

"I've been trying to learn so much more about Tiger," Barkley told Grant Horvat via CBS Sports. "I had a really good season last year. But just like how dominant he was, his mentality. So in 2000, [he had an] amazing year. But 1999, he had an amazing year too, right? To be able to stack years like that. There's never been a back that's rushed for 2,000 yards twice, and definitely not back-to-back.

I think it's just the confidence. I think when you have the year like I had last year, I'm coming into this season -- and to my training ... it's not a fluke. I watch film, and people talk about what I did and what I accomplished, but in my mindset, it should have been even more. When you have that confidence and you play with that swagger."

Barkley can definitively learn a thing or two from Woods

There was almost a two decade stretch where Woods dominated the golf course. The 49-year-old golfer has won 82 PGA Tour tournaments, which is tied for first all time, and has won 15 majors.

Fans can say what they want about Woods' personal life and the issues he has had, but as an athlete, he's as great as he comes. He's considered one of the greatest golfers of all time as he's in the same breath as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Barkley has every opportunity to do the same thing. At 28, he has had four 1,000-yard seasons in seven years. Injuries cost him more in the other three years he missed, but he's got plenty of years to go to catch up as he currently has 7,216 career rushing yards.

His resume is already impressive with three Pro Bowls, Offensive Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl champion. Not many people thought he would achieve that when he was on the New York Giants just two years ago.

Now, Barkley is in the conversation with some of the great running backs in NFL history, like his idol Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Emmitt Smith. He's got the best offensive line in the NFL to stay on their level in 2025 and beyond.

All the early talk of early retirement spooked fans away, but Barkley's message has been clear since then: he wants to be the greatest of all time.