Saquon Barkley's quest for Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's much-ballyhooed single-season rushing record was called a week early.
It was preempted in the hopes of fresher legs carrying Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles to playoff success. The respite worked, and Barkley found another milestone to call his own on the way to earning a Super Bowl ring, as well.
Barkley broke Hall of Famer Terrell Davis' mark for most rushing yards in a season, including playoffs, during the Eagles' 40-22 win in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome.
Barkley finished with 57 rushing yards on 25 carries, finishing the season with 2,504 yards. In the process, the Eagles RB became the first player in NFL history to record over 2,500 rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs, and the third player (fifth instance) to lead the NFL in rushing and win the Super Bowl in the same season -- joining the Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt Smith and the aforementioned Davis with the Denver Broncos.
"Hell of a year," Barkley said after the game. "I couldn't do it without the big boys up front, everyone on this team. I just appreciate them, the whole Eagles organization. Me being a newcomer, welcomed me in with open arms and helping build confidence back in me too. That was definitely helpful. It was a hell of a year, but all of the numbers and stats are cool, but the best thing is being able to hold that Lombardi Trophy."
Heading into the matchup, Barkley, who was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, needed only 30 yards to move past Davis' 1998 mark of 2,476 yards. He did so on the final play of the first half with a 2-yard run. Barkley was corralled for the majority of the first half, held to 31 yards on 12 carries, but the Chiefs' emphasis on stopping him opened it up for others as the Eagles -- keyed by their defense -- sprinted out to a 24-0 intermission lead.
"It's cool," Barkley said. "To be honest, the most important thing was winning the Super Bowl. Because if we didn't win today, all those accolades and all those yards wouldn't mean anything. So, it's cool. I don't want to downplay it because I couldn't do it without the boys up front, and I know how much that means to them. For me, thankful, couldn't do it without God, but I like that Lombardi Trophy a little bit more."
Barkley's 2,447 yards were second all time in a single season heading into the game, having surpassed Davis' 1997 showing of 2,331 yards in last month's NFC Championship Game win over the Washington Commanders.
Prior to Barkley toppling Davis' single-season rushing mark, he also broke his single-season milestone for most scrimmage yards in a season. He needed only three scrimmage yards to supplant Davis' '98 tally of 2,762 yards. He got that mark in the first quarter on a 2-yard carry.
It's the latest landmark in what's been a simply sensational first season for Barkley in Philly.
Through 16 games in the regular season, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards -- the eighth-best single-season rushing mark all time. The ninth player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a regular season, Barkley became the first to ever do so with his second team.
Thusly, the former New York Giants standout has cemented himself as one of the finest free-agent signees in history.
