Barkley Won’t Chase Single-Season Rushing Record: ‘I’ve Got a Bigger Goal in Mind’

The Eagles running back said helping his team win in the playoffs was more important than personal glory.
Barkley Won’t Chase Single-Season Rushing Record: ‘I’ve Got a Bigger Goal in Mind’
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles runs off the field after a 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Dec. 29. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
John Rigolizzo
Updated:
0:00

Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing yards record will remain intact for another year.

The Philadelphia Eagles made the decision to rest running back Saquon Barkley ahead of their season finale against the New York Giants. Barkley was just 101 yards shy of breaking the record, but since the Eagles have locked in their playoff position, the team elected to rest their starters, including Barkley.

“[Head] coach [Nick Sirianni] asked me what I'd like to do, we had a conversation, and he called me back, let me know that we’re probably going to be resting,” Barkley said at a press conference in the Eagles’ locker room Wednesday. “I told my family. My family probably wanted it a little bit more than me, but at the end of the day the most important thing is winning football games, and we’re in the playoffs, so I’ve got a bigger goal in mind anyway.”

Barkley said Sirianni asked him if he wanted to go for the record. Barkley said that while he recognized the opportunity to stamp his name in the NFL history books, and would likely never get another opportunity to do so, he did not like putting the team at risk ahead of the playoffs to chase a personal record.

Even without the record, Barkley has embarked on a campaign that will put him in the history books: His 2,005 yards this season made him one of just nine running backs in NFL history to top 2,000 yards in a season. He is also the Eagles’ single-season record holder in both rushing and yards from scrimmage.

In his own press conference, Sirianni said the single-season rushing record is “very special” and a feat that involves the entire team, but the greater consideration was getting his players rested and healthy for the postseason. The Eagles, whose bye fell in Week 5, have been dealing with the wear and tear that comes with playing 12 consecutive weeks of football. The Eagles have had a particularly tough time at quarterback: Starter Jalen Hurts has been dealing with a concussion he suffered against the Washington Commanders in Week 16, while backup Kenny Pickett injured his ribs in the same game and aggravated the injury in the next game against the Dallas Cowboys, which led to emergency third quarterback Tanner McKee playing that game.

Sirianni said the decision was made by the entire team, and commended his players and staff for putting the team first.

“It wasn’t the easiest decision to go through, but we have great people in this building and had a lot of input from a lot of different people, players included. ... We have just selfless guys that want to do what’s best for the football team, getting some guys some rest.”

Barkley said he accepted Sirianni’s decision. “He’s the head coach for a reason. He makes those decisions.”

One of the major factors contributing to Barkley changing his mind was his appreciation for the hard work of his linemen. He said the offensive linemen wanted him to chase the record, but while his name would have been in the record books, he wouldn’t have been able to break the record without his blockers.

Barkley was also acutely aware that his chance to break the record would have come against the team that drafted him. While he recognized the “full-circle moment,” he said he has a lot of love for his former teammates and training staff who helped him recover from his torn ACL in 2020 and was focused on goals larger than revenge.

John Rigolizzo
John Rigolizzo
Author
John Rigolizzo is a writer from South Jersey. He previously wrote for the Daily Caller, Daily Wire, Campus Reform, and the America First Policy Institute.
twitter