Winning MVP as a running back feels like trying to hurdle a linebacker and dodge a safety at the same time. However, according to three-time Super Bowl champ Tedy Bruschi, Saquon Barkley might just have a shot — if he breaks a record so massive it’s practically the NFL’s Mount Everest.
While QBs like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson hog the spotlight, Bruschi laid down the challenge.
Bruschi Says Saquon Barkley Needs Record-Breaking Numbers To Claim MVP
Bruschi isn’t here for the usual MVP talk. Forget Allen and Jackson — the three-time Super Bowl champ just threw a curveball on ESPN. He said that if Barkley wants the MVP, he’s got to break Eric Dickerson’s 2,105-yard rushing record (1984).
Bruschi wasn’t mincing words: “In terms of MVP voting, [Barkley] would be at No. 1 for me, followed by Josh Allen, you got [Jared Goff] and Lamar third or fourth right there. This is the running back position. … That’s a heck of a milestone,” he said, emphasizing that Barkley’s road to MVP glory isn’t just about putting up numbers but about taking over games in ways few can.
But here’s the catch: “You’re battling three quarterbacks who’ll probably have more moments down the stretch in terms of talking about voters and what they see, so right now, though, the impact for Saquon is above anyone else in the league, that’s why I’d have him at the top.”
In other words, Barkley’s got to break records to make voters pay attention.
Bruschi sees what we all see, that Barkley is the heartbeat of the Philadelphia Eagles. His explosive runs and game-changing plays have carried Philly’s offense. But with QBs like Allen and Jackson lighting up the stat sheets, Barkley needs that wow factor. If he pulls off the unthinkable and surpasses Dickerson, then the MVP spotlight shifts.
So, how does Barkley topple the QB-heavy competition? Simple: Run historic numbers, control the game, and give voters something they’ve never seen before. Unless the RB hits 2,106 yards, the MVP might just be out of reach. It’s a tall order, yes, but if anyone can do it, it’s Barkley. Time to rewrite history.
Barkley’s Historic 302-Yard Night Sparks MVP Buzz and NBA Shoutout
Barkley didn’t just show up in Week 12 — he erased the record books. With a monstrous 302 scrimmage yards in the Eagles’ 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams, the star RB had everyone in splits, including Karl-Anthony Towns a star on the NBA’s New York Knicks, who posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “@saquon is HIM!”
The numbers were crazy. Barkley racked up 255 rushing yards (breaking Philly’s single-game rushing record) and two TDs. His performance now ranks among the NFL’s top 10 single-game scrimmage yard totals.
SEE MORE: Top 10 Most Rushing Yards in an NFL Game — Where Does Barkley Rank?
But Barkley isn’t done yet. Sitting at 1,392 rushing yards in 11 games played, he’s barreling toward Dickerson’s legendary 2,105-yard single-season record. If this is what “HIM” looks like, voters better be paying attention because MVP chatter just got a whole lot louder in Philly.