Saquon Barkley Earns National Award As Eagles Hope For Repeat Performance
The Philadelphia Eagles' blockbuster acquisition of Saquon Barkley continues to pay dividends, as the star running back was named the NFL's top player at his position heading into the 2025 season by The Associated Press.
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Barkley's remarkable first campaign in midnight green earned him seven of eight first-place votes from the AP's panel of Pro Football Writers, cementing his status as the league's premier ground threat after a season that redefined excellence at the position.
The numbers from Barkley's debut Eagles season read like a video game stat sheet. His 2,005 regular-season rushing yards came tantalizingly close to Eric Dickerson's all-time record of 2,105 — falling just 101 yards short after the Eagles rested him in a meaningless Week 18 matchup. But it was his postseason performance that truly etched his name in history. Including playoff games, Barkley amassed 2,504 rushing yards, obliterating Terrell Davis' previous record of 2,476. Perhaps most impressively, he recorded seven touchdown runs of 60 yards or more throughout the season — a feat that showcased not just his breakaway speed but his ability to consistently break games wide open.
Barkley's impact on the Eagles organization has been transformative, changing not just the team's offensive capabilities but its entire championship trajectory.
The AP recognition comes on the heels of an offseason that has seen Barkley reach unprecedented heights for a running back. His record-breaking performance helped secure a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million, with $36 million guaranteed — the richest deal ever for a player at his position.
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The accolades didn't stop there. Barkley was selected as the cover athlete for Madden 26 and, most importantly, helped lead the Eagles to their Super Bowl LIX championship, providing the ground game that proved unstoppable in the playoffs.
While Barkley dominated the voting, the competition for the top spot was fierce. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who defied age-related expectations with 1,921 rushing yards at age 30, earned the lone remaining first-place vote and finished second overall. Henry's performance marked the most rushing yards ever by a player after turning 30, surpassing Tiki Barber's previous record.
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs claimed third place after a breakout sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 517 receiving yards. His 36 total touchdowns over his first two seasons trail only Hall of Famer Curtis Martin's record of 37.
Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey rounded out the top five, with McCaffrey's ranking reflecting both his immense talent and the injury concerns that limited him to just four games last season.
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Barkley's success in Philadelphia represents the perfect marriage of talent and opportunity. After six seasons with the New York Giants yielded individual brilliance but team-wide frustration, his move across the NFC East proved transformative for both player and franchise.
The Eagles' offensive line — anchored by Jason Kelce's successor Cam Jurgens and featuring elite talent across the board — provided the blocking that allowed Barkley's vision and breakaway speed to flourish. Meanwhile, the presence of quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown kept defenses honest, preventing them from loading the box against the run.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, Barkley enters not just as the league's top running back but as the centerpiece of an Eagles offense with championship aspirations once again. The question isn't whether he can repeat his historic performance — it's whether he can somehow surpass it.
The Eagles open the 2025 season at Lincoln Financial Field, where Barkley will look to begin his second chapter in Philadelphia with the same explosive impact that made his first season unforgettable.
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Related: Eagles Join NFL In Concern Over Second-Round Draft Pick Contract
Related: Anonymous GM Offers 'Fluke' Analysis of Saquon Barkley's 2K Season With Eagles
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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