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Saquon Barkley played a key role in the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning season-so much that a tale of a resurgence of the running back position emerged.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Barkley suggested talking about a resurgence not suggested that talented running backs were missing in recent years, but that teams had become reluctant to hand out large contracts, causing compensation for Elite Rushers to dip.
The three-time pro bowler said he thought DIP came from “three to four” high-profile running rumors that signed big offers and then were injured.
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The Philadelphia Eagles, which runs back Saquon Barkley (26) looks at during training camp on the Novacare complex on July 24, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (KYLE ROSS/IMAGN -PICTURES)
Barkley called the devaluation of running back a tale designed to keep wages down.
“(It) wasn’t like a diss to just me,” Barkley told the business. “It’s something they tried to put together, just so they can get players at cheaper value. And if you make that argument for running back, you can do it for any position in the NFL.”
“Now you have owners and GMs trying to find good players at cheaper value,” Barkley said. “That’s what it all was. I was tagged. Josh Jacobs was tagged (by Las Vegas Raiders).”
“I don’t want to sit here and say there was colliding. I don’t go into all that. But football is football. If you can’t run the ball, you’re done.”
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Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen hurts (1) Hands to Eagles, which runs back Saquon Barkley (26) during warming before an NFL football match against Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Barkley pointed out that teams routinely sign broad recipients to major contracts as they enter their 30s, and if these players underpin to, it is not almost as much as when they run rumors hit the stage of their careers.
“The (formerly primary) view is so funny,” Barkley said. “It’s bunk, all the remani-bag-position-are-dying things. You got wide recipients who [teams] Pay all this money for and when they enter their 30s, they do not appear at the highest level; You just never hear that. How many quarterbacks can you name who played into their later 30s? Everyone is not Tom Brady. They have to let it go! “
Last season, the 28-year-old delivered one of the best rushing seasons in NFL history.
Philadelphia Eagles runs back Saquon Barkley (26) on the field after victory against Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imag- Pictures)
In 16 games – he sat out week 18 in front of the playoffs – Barkley rushed in 2,005 yards on 345 attempts with 13 touchdowns, an average of 5.8 meters per year. Bear. He led the league in dangerous yard, trials and courtyards per. Match.
Barkley led this dominance into the post -season and rushed in 499 yards on 91 trials of five touchdowns in four playoffs – which led all the running backs in each category.
Now Barkley will seem to help lead Eagles in their persecution of another Super Bowl ring when they open the season against Dallas Cowboys in Week 1.
