Saquon Barkley is coming off one of the greatest running back seasons in NFL history. Through the regular season and the playoffs, he set the all-time single-season rushing record for a running back, as he was a key force in the Philadelphia Eagles winning their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
Going into their championship defense, Barkley plans to have a similarly explosive season. However, he circles two teams in particular, the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders, on his calendar.
Saquon Barkley Reveals Beef With Divisional Rivals Cowboys and Commanders
Coming into the league as the second overall pick, Barkley immediately showed his value to the New York Giants, exploding for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns in an impressive rookie campaign. However, injuries derailed his career over the next few seasons.
It wasn’t until 2022 that he got back to playing 16 games in a season, as he put up 1,312 yards. However, a 962-yard season in 2023 led New York to pivot and give their quarterback, Daniel Jones, an extension, while Barkley walked in free agency.
It is from that offseason that his vitriol comes for Dallas and the Commanders. Speaking to Janky Rondo, a famous Twitch streamer, Barkley relayed his gripe with the two franchises, which is because both of those teams didn’t pursue him when he was a free agent. “Never heard a word from the Commanders or Dallas. That’s why it’s BTA when I see ’em.”
Saquon Barkley says that the #Commanders did not reach out to him when he was a free agent
“Nah, never heard a word from Commanders or Dallas. That’s why it’s BTA when I see them”
(via:_jankyrondoclips on TikTok) pic.twitter.com/C35QkO2jrL
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) June 28, 2025
For those in the unknown, BTA is slang that translates to belt to a**. And, in his first season away from the Giants, Barkley was out to prove his point.
In two games against the Cowboys, Barkley averaged 116.5 rushing yards, while his numbers against Washington, whom he faced thrice, including the NFC Championship Game, were even better. The star running back tallied 146, 150, and 118 rushing yards in the three games against Washington, along with seven rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.
Surprisingly, New York, which parted ways with him unceremoniously, wasn’t part of Barkley’s list, even though he put up 176 yards against them in a 28-3 blowout, as he did not suit up for their second encounter in Week 18.
It was all part of an all-time year for Barkley, who ultimately finished with 2,504 yards on the year, the most all-time for a running back in a single season. Thanks to his contributions, Philadelphia was ready to keep him around for the long haul.
As a result, even in a hectic offseason, Barkley got a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million that also had $36 million guaranteed to the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
I’d be a bit concerned if Barkley himself can say he’d go harder with the right motivational…I personally would expect him to play his best against ALL opponents!