Saquon Barkley’s Heartfelt Take on Skipping Week 18 While Chasing Eric Dickerson’s Milestone

Saquon Barkley has no regrets about not breaking Eric Dickerson's record because he wanted to put the team's interest first.

Saquon Barkley’s Heartfelt Take on Skipping Week 18 While Chasing Eric Dickerson’s Milestone

Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO)

Saquon Barkley‘s debut season with the Philadelphia Eagles was anything but ordinary. Barkley came close to breaking legendary Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing yards record until head coach Nick Sirianni decided to rest him and a few others for the week 18 fixture against the New York Giants.

The decisions surprised many. Dickerson’s record was up for grabs. Barkley only required 126 yards to etch his name in the record books. It looked like a walk in the park for Barkley, considering he rushed for 176 yards against the Giants in week 7.

Fans turned hostile toward the Eagles’ coaching staff. The decision to rest Barkley and some of the starters made sense. They did not want to risk Barkley getting injured.

Former Eagles defensive end Chris Long was part of the bandwagon that supported Sirianni’s decision. Long recently welcomed Barkley to his Green Light podcast and asked how he felt when guys like him took the coach’s side instead of his.

I try to be authentic as much as I can. So when I answer a question in the media, it’s how I really feel… Unless I am trying to save face for the sake of the team or not trying to cause a drama… Nick called me [and] asked me what I would like to do and going into the game before the last game I didn’t care for the record at all.

Saquon Barkley told Chris Long

Saquon Barkley points out why he could not break Eric Dickerson’s record

Fans wanted the Eagles to play Barkley on the final weekend to break Dickerson’s record. However, the 28-year-old realized that some of his teammates were running on fumes at that point. They needed a day off to recover and regain their lost energy to attack the playoffs in full strength.

Saquon Barkley's Heartfelt Take on Skipping Week 18 While Chasing Eric Dickerson's Milestone
Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO)

Only a year before, the Eagles ran out of gas by the end of the regular campaign. Despite dominating the NFC during a chunk of the year, Sirianni’s men fell at the first hurdle in the wild card.

They wanted to avoid a repeat. So, resting players such as Barkley, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and wide receiver AJ Brown made sense. Barkley harbored zero ill will toward the decision.

It’s a team record… Like it’s not just me. And then also having a conversation with my father. Your last name is everything. To beat record that has been there for 40 years and have our last name attached to that record, then I made my mind, that I wanted the record, I want it and I would love to go for it. But at the same time I get it.

Saquon Barkley said

He blamed himself for failing to wrap up the record sooner.

I am a big believer in you don’t force anything. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be. I can go back and show you five clips right now that I would did this and did that, the record would have been shattered. And you know, there’s always next year.

Saquon Barkley added

Barkley finished the 2024 season with 345 rushes for 2005 yards and 13 touchdowns. He won the Super Bowl and was picked as the cover athlete for Madden 26.

The Eagles will once again be in the mix for the Lombardi Trophy in the 2025-26 season. According to USA Today, the Eagles, along with the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills, have a +750 chance to win the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

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