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Saquon Barkley defends Kevin Patullo after offensive disaster

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Eagles' Saquon Barkley defends OC Kevin Patullo after offensive disaster in playoff loss to 49ers

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 12, 2026 4:53 PM ET

Running back Saquon Barkley knows the Philadelphia Eagles offense is a wreck, but he's defending first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the reigning Super Bowl champions, 23-19, in the NFC wild-card round on Sunday. During the loss, Philadelphia averaged a lousy 4.3 yards per play (307 yards on 72 plays) and scored just three points in the fourth quarter.

The playoff loss has many Eagles fans calling for a change, specifically the firing of Patullo. Barkley, however, says the OC shouldn't be the fall guy.

Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts discuss Kevin Patullo's job status

"I think [the media] has to point the finger at one person, that's what you guys have to do in your job," Barkley said Monday after rushing for 106 yards against San Francisco. "Somebody's got to catch the blame — especially when we had the season we had the year before. Do I think that's fair? No, I don't think that's fair at all."

Saquon Barkley on Kevin Patullo: "I think you have to point the finger at one person, that's what you guys have to do in your job. Somebody's got to catch the blame — especially when we had the season we had the year before. Do I think that's fair? No, I don't think that's fair…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) January 12, 2026

Eagles quarterback Hurts, meanwhile, didn't offer support of the OC. Instead, he dodged a question about Patullo's job status.

"It's too soon to think about that," Hurts said. "I put my trust in [general manager Howie Roseman], [head coach Nick Sirianni] and [owner Jeffrey Lurie]."

Jalen Hurts was asked straight up if he wanted Kevin Patullo back next year and then if he wanted AJ Brown back

Said Patullo is up to Howie/Lurie/etc

Said he and AJ are in a great place pic.twitter.com/WBQNHa5UyQ
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 12, 2026

Regardless, the Eagles' offensive performance was unacceptable with Patullo at the helm. Philadelphia ranked 19th in the NFL in scoring (22.3) in 2025 after finishing seventh (27.2) in 2024.

Barkley rushed for 1,140 yards in 16 regular-season games after running for 2,005 in 2024. Hurts' numbers, however, improved. He threw for more passing yards (3,224) than he did in 2024 (2,903) and for more passing TDs (25 in 2025, 18 in 2024).

But the QB faltered in the playoffs. Against San Francisco, he completed 20-of-35 passes for 168 yards and one TD pass and logged a paltry 40.7 QBR.

Hurts and Barkley are culpable for the Eagles' implosion, but there's no denying the Eagles' offensive regression ties to Patullo's play-calling.

The Eagles hiring Patullo — who had never called plays before this season — to replace former OC Kellen Moore (now New Orleans Saints HC) was a mistake. Even if Barkley says fans and media shouldn't point the finger at the beleaguered coach, that may not save his job.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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