Saquon Barkley hoisted his first NFC East title with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, complete with the ceremonial hat and t-shirt that come with the crown.
The former New York Giant capped off the celebration in the most Saquon way possible—by crossing the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. It was a career-defining moment for a player who spent six seasons in New York chasing that same glory but never came close.
As Barkley put it, “I’m happy. It’s my first hat and t-shirt game. I didn’t even know that was a thing.” The irony stings. Barkley’s brilliance was never in doubt in New York, but the franchise’s dysfunction robbed him of the opportunities he’s now thriving on in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Giants fans are left watching their former star thrive in the division rival’s backfield, wondering what might have been.
Saquon is finally a division champ in his 7th season 😮 pic.twitter.com/mXEF9LaG6A
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 29, 2024
The Eagles signed Barkley to a modest three-year deal in the offseason, and all he’s done since is redefine the running back position.
He’s the ninth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season and sits just 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record. Philly has wrapped up the NFC East and is gearing up for a deep playoff run. New York? They’re angling for a top-five pick and debating if anyone on the current roster deserves to stick around for 2025.
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles did what the Giants never could
What makes this situation even harder for Giants fans to stomach is how easily the Eagles unlocked Barkley’s potential. New York spent years touting Barkley as the face of their franchise, but they never built the infrastructure to let him thrive.
Philadelphia didn’t overthink it. They paired him with a dominant offensive line, a balanced scheme, and a winning culture—and the results speak for themselves.
In one season with the Eagles, Barkley has more rushing yards than in any of his Giants campaigns. More importantly, he’s finally playing for a team that knows how to win. The Giants spent Barkley’s prime years stuck in neutral, cycling through quarterbacks, coaches, and schemes while wasting his transcendent talent.
Now, Barkley’s success with the Eagles feels like a pointed reminder of New York’s mismanagement. It’s not just the numbers or the NFC East crown; it’s the joy and confidence Barkley exudes every time he steps on the field. He’s no longer carrying a broken franchise on his back—he’s leading a contender.
While Barkley eyes records and Super Bowl aspirations, the Giants are left trying to piece together yet another rebuild. And as Barkley dons that championship gear, Giants fans are left with one undeniable truth: they had him first, but they never really had him at all.