Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley enjoyed the best year of his career in 2024, but he feels he hasn’t reached his peak yet.
Despite becoming just the ninth running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, Barkley told Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated that the 2025 season marks the beginning of his prime, meaning the best is yet to come. The 28-year-old also pushed back against the notion that he’d decline as he got older and pointed to NFL legends Curtis Martin, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and Fred Taylor as running backs who found success around his age.
“That [past prime] notion is so funny,” Barkley said. “It’s bunk, all the running-back-position-is-dying [stuff]. You got wide receivers who [teams] pay all this money to, and when they get into their 30s, they’re not performing at the highest level; you just never hear that. How many quarterbacks can you name who played into their later 30s? Everyone’s not Tom Brady. They have to let that go!”
Barkely also had an interesting comparison to his mindset entering the 2025 campaign, saying he hopes to emulate star golfer Tiger Woods in the way he continued to elevate even after his first taste of success on the PGA Tour.
“I’m trying to tap more into my Tiger side,” Barkley said. “My Eldrick side, I guess.”
He continued: “Just being on the prowl. People automatically associate a hell of a year with numbers. That’s not what’s driving me.”
Barkley feels he’s matured in his playing style, as he compared the early part of his career to a young Mike Tyson, saying he was “Just trying to hit home runs. Trying to knock you out.” Now, he feels he’s closer to Floyd Mayweather Jr. toward the end of his boxing career, being more patient, “And then, when the time comes, when you slip, I still have the power and speed to take it to the house.”
It sounds like the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year is seeking even greater heights as he tries to lead the Eagles to a second straight Super Bowl title.
