By the time Kendrick Lamar took to the stage for the halftime show, the Super Bowl 59 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles seemed already completed, with the latter going into halftime with a 24-0 lead. What was left were two quarters as the Eagles eventually exacted revenge from two years ago to win the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy (40-22).
Two years ago in Super Bowl 57, the Chiefs defeated the Eagles by the narrowest of margins (38-35). So what changed? Jalen Hurts answer: Saquon Barkley.
Jalen Hurts Spotted Giving Major Props To Saquon Barkley After Super Bowl Victory
After the Eagles defeated the Chiefs, on the sidelines, Hurts let Barkley know:
“Hey man, that’s you.”
The running back then went on to hug Hurts and said:
“That’s all of us, man.”
However, Hurts let the running back know that he was the difference.
“I know it’s all of us, but you don’t understand the difference you made. You know, we right there but you like that last piece, man,” Hurts told Barkley.
Saquon Barkley: the final piece of the puzzle 🦅 pic.twitter.com/HSAe0Sir0Q
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) February 12, 2025
Jalen Hurts Wasn’t Wrong About Saquon Barkley Being The Puzzle Piece Eagles Were Waiting
Following a messy fallout with the New York Giants, Barkley went into the offseason hoping to sign a long-term deal. The Eagles went ahead and inked him to a three-year, $37.75 million deal in March.
The signing proved to be the final puzzle piece for the Eagles, who missed out on making the postseason in 2023. Barkley went on to have a career year with the Eagles, rushing for 2,504 yards and 18 touchdowns (including both regular season and postseason). In the process, he broke Terrell Davis’ NFL record for most rushing yards in a full season.
More importantly, Barkley was lights out in the Eagles’ NFC Championship victory against the Washington Commanders. In that game, he ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries as the Eagles won 55-23 to appear in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
While he didn’t have much to do in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday (25 carries for 57 yards), his impact on the Eagles was no better served than what Hurts told him on the sidelines after the piece.
Barkley has two more years to go on his contract, which the Eagles will try to maximize upon and build a dynasty like the Chiefs.