Will Super Bowl LIX be Saquon Barkley’s first-ever game against the Kansas City Chiefs?
Saquon Barkley has never played against the Kansas City Chiefs in his career and Super Bowl LIX will be the first time he faces Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO)
Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9. This will be the first time Barkley will play against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
During a segment of teammate Darius Slay’s podcast, Barkley revealed he never faced the Chiefs, even while playing for the New York Giants for six seasons.
I have never played Kansas City. The only year I was supposed to play I was hurt, so I never played Kansas City. So this is [Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans] like my first time really ever watching the film on the guy on center [Patrick Mahomes].
Saquon Barkley told Slay.
Saquon Barkley has NEVER played the Kansas City Chiefs 👀 #Eagles
— Philly Talk Podcast (@Philly_Mike25) February 5, 2025
Via Big Play Slay Podcasts pic.twitter.com/69jTHy6HXD
Why did Saquon Barkley miss his only previous fixture against the Kansas City Chiefs?
After missing out on the 2020 season due to an ACL tear, Barkley returned to the starting lineup on day one of the following season. He started five games, but in week five while facing the Dallas Cowboys, he suffered an ankle injury, as per DraftShark.

Barkley accidentally stepped on a Cowboys player’s foot who was closing in from his blind side. The 27-year-old twisted his left ankle and was immediately carted away. Video footage showed massive swelling on the ankle.
Just terrible luck. Hard to imagine Saquon Barkley’s day isn’t done. pic.twitter.com/AxggCCqnd8
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 10, 2021
The injury kept Barkley out for the next four games, including a trip to Arrowhead and playing against the Chiefs in week 8. He returned to the Giants starting lineup in the week 10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Barkley reveals why the Chiefs are a tough team to break down
Unlike the Eagles, who will play their third Super Bowl in eight years, the Super Bowl in NOLA will be the Chiefs’ fifth in six years, winning four times, and they are on the path to a historic three-peat. Barkley explained that former Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s success in KC is no fluke.
The Chiefs established a foundation that includes a core group of players who are untouchables: Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and defensive end Chris Jones. The Chiefs offense may not be the best in NFL but it’s the defense that outplays every team it faces.
Success is not accident. There’s a reason why they are a great defense. There’s a reason why they haven’t let a 100-yard rusher this year, only one was Lamar [Jackson]. They also have a playoff record right now like they haven’t let one go since 2018 or 2019. I think it all starts with your [Slay] former teammate [Chris Jones]. He is a bad boy.
Saquon Barkley said.
The Chiefs have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in any of their last 18 playoff games dating to 2019.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 5, 2025
Barkley is right. The Chiefs haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher for 18 playoff games in a row. However, the All-Pro running back hit 100+ rushing yards in 14/19 games this season, including 3/3 in the postseason. If anyone can open up the Chiefs defense, he is the one.