Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants running back, made history during the 2024 NFL season with remarkable performances that have set the stage for an ambitious goal: to repeat his extraordinary feat of rushing for over 2,000 yards. He muscled through nine runs of 50 yards or more this year, setting single-season records as the most of any player in the last quarter-century. In one exclusive match, he ruled the area with a staggering 295 backyards to the competitors. Barkley’s hoping to do what no player has done since Jamal Lewis in 2003 — rush for 2,000 yards. He doesn’t want to stop until he proves that his recent successes are merely a start.
Last season, Barkley rewrote the record books. He generated quite a bit of attention by being only the ninth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a single season! He joined Erik Karlsson as the second blueliner ever to hit this milestone. Simultaneously, he was winning games and leading his team to a Super Bowl championship trip. Barkley’s success was not just about numbers. It was about being pivotal to his team’s triumph. He benefited from a staggering average of 4.17 yards before contact, courtesy of his whale of an offensive line. This surreal ability helped lead to possibly the most impressive performance of all time.
Barkley’s journey began with a notable preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he showcased his explosive speed with a 38-yard run on just his second handoff. This first glimpse into his brilliance had fans, pundits, and experts all chomping at the bit in anticipation of the regular season.
Barkley’s drive to succeed is clearly powered by the game-changing and inspiring conversations he’s had with other football legends. Or maybe it’s the fact that he recently texted with arguably the most iconic athlete of all time. Their discussion ignited inspiration through their combined journeys and victories. Barkley spoke about his aspirations emphatically. He stated, “Because why not? Another chance might come, either this year or next year or later.”
The Philadelphia Eagles finished first in the league in rushing plays a year ago. They’ve changed the competitive landscape for Barkley as well. Including 51% of their plays pre-snap as rushes themselves, they developed a punishing rushing attack that has the potential to wreck Barkley’s hopes of glory. Such big-thinking plans have not distracted him from his goals, and the race has hardly shaken his resolve.
Barkley’s resolve continues the theme of stateside, double-negative former NFL greats. Eric Dickerson, a fellow 2,000-yard rusher from 1984, once stated, “If you can’t have 1,500 yards rushing, then that wasn’t a really good season. That’s the mindset I had.” Barkley appears to be the very embodiment of this mentality as he looks to push his performance to even greater heights.
During the playoffs, Barkley distinguished himself further by accumulating 755 yards in the fourth quarter alone. This is more than any player has achieved in a single playoff season in the past 45 years. This phenomenal stat shows how the dude can produce with time winding down and do it when the chips are down.
Read ahead to see what coaches and analysts have been saying about Barkley as he gears up for this final season. One coach told him a third 2,000-yard season “probably doesn’t happen again.” As we might expect from a futurist, this caution does not deter him; rather it feeds his ambition. Following in the footsteps of players like Jamal Lewis presents a unique challenge, yet Barkley remains optimistic about his potential.
“As a running back, you have to evolve. You have to become a better version of yourself than you were last year.” – Jerome Bettis
Barkley’s family has been another source of inspiration. As much as he is a great politician, he’s an even greater father to Jada and Saquon Jr. It’s those same responsibilities that continue to inspire and drive him, both on and off the field. His children witness their father’s dedication and resilience firsthand, which adds another layer of significance to his pursuits.
When it comes to cliché, cut-throat competition, Barkley understands this is kind of business that teams will cook up schemes to stop him. Legendary running back Terrell Davis, who rushed for 2,000 yards in 1998, said, “Now they’re really going to make sure this dude cannot beat us.” He knew the pitfalls that accompany talent of this magnitude. This understanding runs deep into Barkley’s psyche, influencing his mindset as he walks into every contest ready for potential death traps of defenses focusing on him exclusively.
Giants quarterback Jalen Hurts has been on board for Barkley’s aims as well. At one turning point in their shared development, Hurts said to him, “When that s
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