In his second year with the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Saquon Barkley has shown increases in his overall statistics. But despite these numbers, many of the team’s fans are more allured by Barkley’s looks than his playing abilities. So if NFL fans have nothing bad to say about the running back’s attractiveness, could we say the same about his game?
Coming off a phenomenal career at Penn State, Saquon Barkley was the number two pick in the 2018 NFL draft, selected by the New York Giants. Now, this is even more impressive than it looks on paper. First-round picks are typically reserved for positions like quarterback, offensive linemen, and wide receivers, due to the short careers and high injury proneness of running backs. But Barkley had 51 touchdowns and 5,038 rushing and passing yards in his three-year college career. To NFL general managers, he would make an immediate change to any team’s offense.
In his first NFL season, Saquon performed extraordinarily well. As a rookie, he garnered over 2,000 scrimmage yards—a number only exceeded by two other rookies: Eric Dickerson in 1983 and Edgerrin James in 1999. Additionally, he set a rookie running back record of 91 receptions, an incredibly difficult feat to achieve. But after five years in New York, Barkley left the Giants and signed a 3-year deal with the Eagles.
During his first year in Philadelphia, he reached 2,005 rushing yards and a personal record of 13 touchdowns. Furthermore, in week 9 of the season, Barkley pulled his famous reverse hurdle against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which earned him the ESPY for Best Play in 2025. While his second season hasn’t been as productive as he’s been dealing with a recurring groin injury, Saquon has still been consistently running the ball well. Notably, during the Eagles’ week 8 game against the New York Giants and week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Barkley ran an average of 10.7 yards and 6.1 yards per rush attempt, respectively.
All things considered, Saquon Barkley is widely considered the best running back in the league. His football IQ and explosiveness on the field substantially overwhelm the appeal of his looks. I’d be lying if I said that Saquon wasn’t good-looking, but his skill is what really shows out during games. With a record-setting contract and a championship under his belt, Barkley is now focused on cementing his legacy and his place in football history.