Hitting 2,000 rushing yards in a single NFL season is a rare milestone, and it places a player in an elite group of running backs.
Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, joined that club in December 2024, adding to his reputation as one of the league’s top talents. The achievement drew praise from football greats, including Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who shared his thoughts during an appearance on “Good Morning Football.”
Barry Sanders Praises Saquon Barkley’s Historic Achievement
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley secured his place in NFL history by becoming just the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
He hit the mark during a dominant performance against the Dallas Cowboys, earning praise from across the league — most notably from Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
Who do you think is @BarrySanders current favorite running backs?
Detroit Lions legend and Hall of Famer joins the show to let us know and gives us his predictions for the Lions in 2025 🦁 pic.twitter.com/d1cLrMvPDT
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb)
Barkley entered the game needing 162 yards to reach the milestone. He passed it in the fourth quarter with a 23-yard run, finishing the game with 167 yards on 31 carries. That bumped his season total to 2,005 yards — with one game left to possibly break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set in 1984.
Though Barkley did not go on to break the record — he sat out Philadelphia’s Week 17 game as the team had already locked up the No. 1 seed — he put together one of the best individual offensive seasons in league history. He finished with 2,283 yards from scrimmage, 13th most ever in a single-season, and 15 total touchdowns.
Speaking on “Good Morning Football,” Sanders talked about how rare and meaningful the 2,000-yard milestone is. “It’s certainly an elite group. It’s certainly something that sets you apart from others,” Sanders said, underlining how big the accomplishment is in today’s game.
He also praised Barkley’s ability to bounce back and succeed in a new system with the Eagles. Sanders pointed out that while Barkley has always had talent, he took it to another level in Philly. The former Lions star said he admired how Barkley handled pressure and became a major part of the Eagles’ success.
Sanders highlighted the added weight of Barkley’s big season coming in a Super Bowl-winning year for the Eagles. He said moments like this can reshape how people view the value of running backs in today’s league. “Not only did he just have a wonderful, amazing year as a running back, but his team won the Super Bowl, and he was a big part of that,” Sanders said.
Barkley’s 2,000-yard season helped solidify his spot among the league’s elite. His ability to thrive in a new system and come through in big moments shows his toughness and talent. Combined with Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win, his performance helped remind everyone just how important running backs still are in the NFL.
As the 2025 season approaches, Barkley’s legacy keeps growing.
The eagles did not have the 1 seed, we were locked into the 3 seed at that point (week 17).
The lions had the one seed and the Vikings had the two seed
I do not care what offensive line is in front of barklay, he never performed like this when was with the giants, period