“The competitor in me, who I am to the core, I want to say ‘F, everybody. You don’t think I’m able to put myself in that category?’” That’s Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley talking to The Athletic’s Zach Berman, and if that doesn’t get you fired up for the new NFL season, I don’t know what will. After what was called a “down season” in 2025, Barkley is absolutely bristling with a chip on his shoulder as he stares down his age-29 year. He’s got high expectations for himself, and frankly, he’s letting everyone know he plans on blowing the doubters out of the water.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, But Neither Does the Fire
Let’s be real: 2025 wasn’t the Saquon Barkley we’d come to expect. He put up 1,140 rushing yards, which is still solid, but it’s almost half of his monstrous 2024 output when he exploded for 2,005 yards. Remember that? He became only the ninth running back in NFL history to break the 2,000-yard mark! The drop wasn’t entirely a mystery, though. His 2024 workload was *insane*, clocking in at 482 touches between the regular season and playoffs. That’s just ten touches shy of James Wilder’s single-season record of 492 set way back in ’84. That kind of pounding takes its toll, and you saw it in his rushing success rate, which dipped from 52.5 percent in 2024 to 46.1 percent last year. The dude was carrying an entire offense on his back, literally.
Defying Father Time and Delivering Playmaking Fire
So what’s different now? Barkley’s feeling rejuvenated, and you can practically hear the confidence in his voice. He’s had a longer offseason, and the Eagles are shaking things up on offense, with Sean Mannion stepping in for Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator. This is his ninth NFL season, and he’s not just showing up; he’s ready to dominate. “Being a better playmaker,” Barkley told ESPN’s Tim McManus about his 2026 goals. “That’s why I was brought here, that’s what I feel I’m one of the best in the league [at] and just bringing that back.” Historically, running back is a young man’s position, no doubt. Last year, out of 17 players who hit 1,000 rushing yards, only Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey were 29 or older. Adrian Peterson in 2015 was the last guy to lead the league in rushing at that age. But Barkley? He absolutely belongs in that elite company, and a new zone-oriented system could be exactly what he needs to remind everyone he’s still one of the best. The Eagles are counting on him too, especially after trading A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, leaving a hole in their production.
Barkley and the Eagles kick off their season this Sunday, hosting the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. It’s time to see if that “f–k everybody” mentality translates into one of the best years of his career. Meanwhile, our very own Seattle Seahawks already showed up on the scoreboard, taking down the New England Patriots 13-10. It’s an early season, folks, and the league is already delivering the kind of grit and determination we live for!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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