Saquon Barkley credits Barry Sanders for team‑first mindset as Eagles set rushing record

Running back Saquon Barkley said a childhood NFL Films clip of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders handing out Gatorade to teammates shaped his own unselfish approach on the field. Barkley, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, joined Sanders as one of nine players to rush for 2,000 yards in a season in 2024 and helped the Philadelphia Eagles capture the Super Bowl.

He finished the season with an NFL‑record 2,504 combined rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs, chose to sit out the final regular‑season game rather than chase a personal record, and often deferred carries to other backs at the coach’s direction. Barkley attributes his team‑first attitude to his parents, Alibay Barkley and Tonya Johnson, and to the culture he embraced early in his career.