Saquon Barkley Breaks NFL Single-Season Rushing Record in Stellar First Year with the Eagles

No NFL player has ever rushed for more yards in their debut season with a team than Saquon Barkley did in his inaugural year with the Philadelphia Eagles. During the final play of the first half in Super Bowl LIX, Barkley set a new NFL record for the most rushing yards accumulated throughout the regular season and playoffs, surpassing the previous record held by legendary Denver Bronco, Terrell Davis. Davis had amassed 2,008 yards during the 1998 regular season and added another 468 yards en route to a Super Bowl XXXIII victory. Barkley broke this milestone with a modest 2-yard gain during what was a rather quiet outing for him, contributing 57 yards on 25 carries. However, this did little to hinder Philadelphia, who triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs with a commanding 40-22 victory, securing their second Super Bowl championship in the franchise’s history.

The announcement sent shockwaves: Saquon Barkley has now set the NFL single-season rushing record, combining regular and postseason stats, with an outstanding 2,478 yards. Coincidentally, this remarkable achievement occurred as Barkley celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday. Crowned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year just days earlier, Barkley narrowly missed breaking the regular season-only record. He racked up 2,005 yards, falling 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s enduring record of 2,105 yards. To preserve his condition for future matches, the Eagles opted to bench Barkley in Week 18 instead of risking him in pursuit of history. Calling Barkley’s debut season in Philadelphia successful is an understatement.

After spending six inconsistent seasons with the New York Giants—where both his health and performance frequently fluctuated—the former No. 2 overall pick transitioned from one of the NFL’s weakest offensive lines to one of its strongest. This shift occurred last offseason when Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles. The transformation allowed Barkley to emerge as the league’s premier runner. Immediate success was followed by growing momentum as the season progressed and into the playoffs. Perhaps his most memorable play was a backward leap over a defender. Barkley’s season finale was not just exceptional; it was arguably the greatest any running back has ever had in NFL history. Finally matched with a team able to fully utilize his physical and mental talents, Barkley delivered results that speak volumes about his capabilities.