Running back Saquon Barkley used to break down huddles with, “F the Eagles!” Now, he’s soaking in life as one of the Philadelphia Eagles’ most important playmakers, a championship ring in hand, and everything about his journey feels personal.
What Led Saquon Barkley to Leave the New York Giants for the Philadelphia Eagles?
The NFL is all about big business these days. A long time ago, players had to work second jobs to make ends meet. Now, their contracts keep climbing higher and higher. But with those bigger paydays comes a tough truth: few players stay with one team their whole career. Being traded or signing elsewhere is just part of the deal, and for Barkley, that reality shaped his journey.
The New York Giants drafted Barkley and quickly made headlines as the 2018 NFL Rookie of the Year. Even though he lived up to the hype for the Giants, the offense around him struggled to keep up. As his rookie contract neared its end, New York exercised its fifth-year option to keep him through 2022, then placed the franchise tag on him in 2023. But when it came time to talk about a new long-term deal, the Giants didn’t step up to match Barkley’s value. Suddenly, trade rumors were flying.
Recently, Barkley opened up about his move to Philadelphia on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. He shared how the Giants actually did right by him and let him test the open market, something they didn’t have to do. Barkley appreciated that move, and said he even gave the Giants a shot to match the Eagles’ offer.
He wasn’t bitter or desperate to leave, but after New York passed, he headed for Philly. As Barkley put it, “Best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m here. I’m in Philly. I’m with Howie [Roseman]. I’m with Big Dom [Dom DiSandro]. With all these guys. I got the best offensive line in football. We just came off a Super Bowl.”
How Did Joining a Division Rival Affect Barkley and His Relationships?
This kind of move doesn’t happen every day. While players bounce from team to team all the time, jumping to a direct division rival like the Eagles isn’t the usual path. Both teams play in the NFC East, adding extra juice to every matchup. Barkley was asked if moving to Philly changed anything with his old friends in New York.
“Dad, how good was Saquon Barkley?” pic.twitter.com/J6LdetdyHs
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 29, 2025
“I used to hate Philly,” admitted Barkley. “I tell these guys all the time. Literally, the week leading into my last year with New York, we lost to Philly in the playoffs. We lost to them three times in a row, and I was tagged, so I couldn’t go into the building, but I would still hang out with the guys in offseason programs and throwing trips. We would break it down on ‘F the Eagles!’ on three.”
As Barkley made clear, the Eagles were always the roadblock keeping the Giants from reaching the next level. Choosing Philadelphia wasn’t without controversy.
Barkley explained, “The thing about me choosing and coming to Philadelphia, I knew I’ll get some backlash from fans, but when me and my family put a list of pros and cons, the only con that stuck out was people might be upset. I can’t make decisions based on my life off what people feel like. I think so far it showed I made the right decision.”
Sure, Barkley is proud of his Super Bowl ring and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. But for him, that’s not the end of the story. This isn’t some one-shot deal; he’s chasing something bigger.
Barkley is focused on building a Hall of Fame resume, and he believes that playing for Philadelphia gives him the best shot to cement his legacy as an all-time great. For Barkley, it’s about more than one big moment; it’s about what he leaves behind when he’s done playing.
