Saquon Barkley talked the talk, but when the Super Bowl spotlight hit, fans couldn’t find the walk. After a confident pre-game speech, the star running back made less of an impact on-field than many expected — something NFL fans didn’t let slide.
Social media erupted with trolls, turning Barkley’s performance into a much different storyline than he expected.
Saquon Barkley Talked Big, Did He Back It Up? Fans Weigh In
Barkley’s Super Bowl confidence didn’t exactly translate on-field, and fans wasted no time pointing it out. After hyping up his team the night before, Barkley’s performance became a major talking point. The running back was held to just 2.3 yards per carry on 25 attempts, leaving many wondering where the fire from his pre-game speech had gone.
Barkley said, “As I watch film, my confidence grows more… These guys can’t f*** with us. I don’t care how many times they’ve been here. I don’t care how many times they’ve won it. They haven’t seen a team like this.”
Many fans reacted with jokes. One summed it up, “Yet he didn’t do anything.”
The comment captured the confusion of watching Barkley struggle while the Philadelphia Eagles still ran over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Yet he didn’t do anything
— Carly (@carlymersky) February 16, 2025
Even with Jalen Hurts throwing a pick, Philly dominated in what some called the “strangest, most boring Super Bowl ever.”
Saquon held to 2.3 ypc on 25 attempts + Hurts threw a pick & they still smoked KC – strangest / most boring SB ever
— Ciiircles (@Challllss) February 16, 2025
Others took a closer look at the matchup itself.
One fan pointed out the talent gap, stating that almost every Chiefs offensive player wouldn’t even start for the Eagles. It was a reality check: Philly’s depth made the difference, regardless of Barkley’s production.
Still, not all reactions were critical. One fan admitted they’ve “always hated the Eagles” but still had love for Barkley, celebrating his championship moment despite the underwhelming numbers.
Another argued, “Barkley’s confidence was justified, his team’s unique strength was proven in their Super Bowl win.”
In the end, the Eagles got the job done, and Barkley added a Super Bowl ring to his resume. But for Barkley and many of his fans his Super Bowl success, or lack thereof, became an unexpected storyline.