Saquon Barkley avenged the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 57 loss by crushing the Kansas City Chiefs’ three-peat dream. The Eagles ran away with the Vince Lombardi trophy after handing Patrick Mahomes and Co. a 40-22 defeat in Super Bowl 59.
After the season, Philadelphia rewarded its star running back with a $41.2 million contract extension.
Saquon Barkley on Becoming the Highest-Paid Running Back In NFL History
Barkley was instrumental in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl quest. He became only the ninth player in league history to chart over 2,000 yards in the regular season.
So, it makes sense that his new contract makes him the top-paid running back in the history of the National Football League. He is also the first ever running back to earn an annual salary of $20 million or more. The deal has $36 million guaranteed money and $15 million in incentives and escalators.
Barkley made an appearance on Cooper DeJean & Reed Blankenship’s “Exciting Mics” podcast this week and discussed a variety of topics. He talked about the vote to ban the Tush Push, his time with the Eagles, the Super Bowl victory, and much more.
Saquon Barkley wants all NFL contracts to be FULLY guaranteed 🗣️🤔 pic.twitter.com/u6xYELGjl9
— Exciting Mics (@excitingmics)
Barkley also discussed the historic contract he signed after securing the Vince Lombardi trophy. The hosts congratulated him on the deal and asked how it feels to be the highest-paid running back in the league and if he has spent anything yet.
“Thank you, thank you…. No, I haven’t spent anything,” Barkley said. “How does it feel? It feels amazing. Shout-out to the Eagles organisation. I think it just sends a message to the guys on our team. You play well and you do things the right way, you’re going to be taken care of.”
He is grateful to the Eagles management for reviving the running back market.
“A lot of times, GMs and organizations have leverage on you and they can do whatever they want. So, really thankful for the Eagles organization…But it’s cool to help bring back the running back market,” he added.
Barkley also talked about Derrick Henry’s recent two-year extension worth $30 million with the Baltimore Ravens. The 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year believes that running backs are a key part of every team and impact their schemes.
The former first-round pick said that the short running back lifespan is just a narrative that people were trying to create. He defended his case by saying, “They paid Todd Gurley, they paid Zeke, I got drafted high, and they paid Christian.”
It’s no secret that running backs have been devalued significantly in the modern NFL. However, several veteran running backs had great seasons on new teams last season and helped elevate their club to new heights. So, many think that the pendulum will shift in favor of running backs again. It remains to be seen, but Barkley will do his best to make sure it happens.