The Philadelphia Eagles are ready to turn down the opportunity to let Saquon Barkley break the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
Head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Wednesday that the team will rest several key players in its season finale against the New York Giants, Barkley’s former team. The Eagles are already locked into the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NFC playoffs and have nothing to gain from a win.
Barkley, with 2,005 rushing yards this year, is 100 shy of Eric Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in a single season. But the team will choose to prevent the risk of injury rather than go for the milestone.
Sirianni said he spoke with Barkley, in his first season with the Eagles after six years with the Giants, about his decision.
“I think it’s pretty obvious how special this guy is,” Sirianni said.
Sirianni had said he planned to talk to everyone, including players, coaches, general manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie before making his decision.
The Eagles had their bye week in Week 5 and came back from a 2-2 start to win 10 straight games and take control of the division. But 12 consecutive games, in which Barkley increased his NFL record with 345 carries, also played a role in Sirianni giving the starters a week off before the Eagles opened the playoffs at home.
“It wasn’t the easiest decision to make,” Sirianni said. “We have great people in this building and we get a lot of input from a lot of different people, including the players.”
Barkley has also said he would prioritize the team’s success over breaking the record.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) returns to the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
“I came here to do something special, and obviously breaking the record is special,” Barkley said after the Eagles clinched the division. “But I want a banner up there. I think we all do. But we gave ourselves a chance with that and clinched the playoffs then and now with the division.”
Barkley should have plenty of company in the starting lineup against the Giants. Hurts was still in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday and could not practice or play until he was cleared.
Kenny Pickett started for the Eagles last week and ran and threw for a touchdown before leaving with injured ribs. Tanner McKee, the third-string quarterback, threw a pair of touchdown passes as he put the finishing touches on a Cowboys rout.
“At the end of the day, I had to make the decision of what I felt was best,” Sirianni said.
after him ran 167 yards In Sunday’s win against Dallas, Barkley, 27, said he wanted the record but would do what was best for the team, even if it meant missing the final regular-season game.
“Rest assured, I’m fine with that too, because I didn’t come here and sign here just to run for 2,000 or break a record,” Barkley said Sunday. “I want to do something special, that is, special with the team.”
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Barkley signed a three-year contract with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million total, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
The decision also puts to rest that concern that Barkley would have set the record in an additional 17th game that Dickerson didn’t have in 1984.
In 1984, Dickerson surpassed 100 rushing yards 12 times to break OJ Simpson’s 1973 Buffalo record of 2,003 rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, while Barkley had 345 carries this season.
Meanwhile, the Giants will enter Sunday’s game with even less at stake than the Eagles, but much more to lose in terms of draft positioning with a win.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. (Images by Bill Streicher-Imagn)
The Giants were in sole possession of the NFL’s worst record and the No. 1 overall pick heading into last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. But with a 45-33 home win over Indianapolis, the Giants fell to the fourth overall pick.
A win over the Eagles’ backups would drop the Giants even further down the draft order, as they could fall as low as No. 9 overall.
