The New York Giants' decision to let Saquon Barkley walk last offseason already looked bad. Watching him hoist the Lombardi Trophy in a Philadelphia Eagles jersey? That was brutal. But now, Philly has twisted the knife even deeper.
According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Eagles just gave Barkley a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources. The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an… pic.twitter.com/h5iEf5IWe2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing, with up to $15 million in additional incentives and escalators. In other words, not only did the Eagles bet big on Barkley last offseason, but they’re back at the table, doubling down on him after just one year—something almost unheard of for a running back in today’s NFL.
General manager Joe Schoen didn’t even make him a final offer before letting him leave. What a terrible optic now.
Giants' Saquon Barkley mistake continues to haunt them
The logic behind letting Barkley go was simple: Paying big money for oft-injured running backs is a risky and dodgy long-term investment. The Giants, fresh off handing Daniel Jones $160 million, decided they couldn’t afford to do the same with Barkley. Instead, they let him walk out the door for a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles—an absolute bargain considering the season he just had.
All Barkley did in his first year with Philly was:
- Rush for 2,005 yards in the regular season
- Add 499 rushing yards in the playoffs, bringing his season total to an absurd 2,504 yards
- Win a Super Bowl, becoming a cornerstone of the hated Eagles' offense
(breaking Terrell Davis’ single-season rushing record)
Most teams would think twice about giving a running back another massive contract just one year into his deal. The Eagles? They just handed Barkley a record-setting extension before the ink ever dried on his first contract.
This isn’t just about rewarding a great season. It’s a direct message: Barkley is a core piece of their future and someone they value highly. Meanwhile, the Giants brought in a new running backs coach, possibly preparing to spend a day-two draft pick on a running back. Because apparently paying Barkley was bad business, but not having a backup plan to replace him was fine.
If the Giants were looking for validation that they made the right call, this was the literal exact opposite of that. The Eagles didn’t just prove Barkley was worth keeping—they made the Giants look completely incompetent for letting him leave in the first place... which was also aired on television.