NEW ORLEANS -- If one needed visual proof of Saquon Barkley's importance to the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles, one glance at the throng of reporters awaiting his arrival to his Super Bowl LIX Opening Night podium would suffice.
Unlike many of his teammates, Barkley on Sunday will make his first trip to the Super Bowl -- a journey that likely wouldn't have happened had he not decided to leave the New York Giants for their division rivals in the 2024 offseason. It was fitting, then, that a mass of humanity, microphones and camera equipment stood ready for his arrival -- and even more felicitous that Barkley proved to be a frequent topic throughout the night at Caesar's Superdome.
Just ask one of his most respected opponents in Super Bowl LIX, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.
"In order to beat this team, we probably gotta stop Saquon first," Jones said. "He's having a heckuva year and they been relying heavy on running that ball.
"He can jump crazy. He can outrun you, he can run you over. … There's just not no one thing he does. He's so athletic. He can jump over you. He can out run you. So many challenges."
Plenty of less fortunate foes have already learned this lesson in the 2024 season, a campaign in which Barkley cleared 2,000 yards on the ground, powered the Eagles to a 14-3 finish and has made a strong case for the Offensive Player of the Year award.
Jaguars rookie Jarrian Jones found out the hard way and ended up on the wrong end of a viral moment during the season when Barkley reverse hurdled the defensive back, stunning the entire football world with his rare athleticism Jones referenced.
The feat inspired EA Sports, makers of the NFL video game Madden NFL 25, to quickly add the move as a feature in their product. Barkley's teammate, Brandon Graham, worried it might drive fans to try to recreate it at their own risk.
"I just knew he was going to mess up some people's backs trying to emulate the same thing that he did, (but) they ain't Saquon," Graham said Monday. "That was so special in that moment, to be able to see it live and be right there. It's still something I go watch after the fact."
Barkley earned his reputation by producing these types of highlights at Penn State and in the NFL, but until 2024, he'd been mired in the Giants' mediocrity and never sniffed a stage such as the one that awaits him and his Eagles teammates Sunday. When the time came to consider a future elsewhere, he had to think carefully about the possibilities.
"Me and my family literally had a sheet, we did pros and cons," Barkley said of making his free-agent decision in March. "The only con about Philly was I might get some slack cause I played in New York. So, it was a no-brainer for me. The talent that we have here, going against those guys, hearing stories about the organizations, and then most importantly, those big boys up front."
With the pros outweighing the cons, Barkley departed for Philadelphia, placing his future in the hands of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni.
The existing talent on the Philadelphia roster was ecstatic upon hearing the news. Now that the Eagles are in the Super Bowl, they're even more thankful.
"You seen him when he was with the Giants," Graham said. "He made do with what he had. But for us, it's everybody. The offensive line's really good. Him, making his little cuts and do what he do, I think it works well together with the type of team we have. We've been taking full advantage of it."
With a rebuilt defense loaded with youngsters playing on affordable contracts, the Eagles had room in their salary cap to chase a star running back like Barkley. The goal was to elevate their offense, and while it wasn't exactly a smooth journey for the unit in 2024, the investment proved to be a slam dunk. It's no coincidence Roseman has been seen hugging Barkley at the ends of recent games; the player he convinced to join his team has propelled them back to the Super Bowl.
Barkley, meanwhile, feels thankful to have even received a chance to leave the Giants for a team of such stature. After spending six tumultuous years in the Big Apple, he's now chasing a Lombardi Trophy in the Big Easy.
"It means everything. That's life, though. You're going to have adversity," Barkley said. "You're going to have up and downs, but it's who you are in those moments, and I never lost faith and I just kept my head down and kept working, and was able to get here and be able to surround myself with unbelievable individuals. When you're able to do that, you're able to have a lot of success."
The Eagles agree.
"I never thought I was going to get him as a teammate," veteran tackle Lane Johnson said Monday, "but his first impression was he's a great guy. A lot of fun to be around.
"And then you put the ball in his hands – turns out, he's pretty good."
