Tag: Barkley

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley speaks with fans at an autograph signing appearance.

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley leads NFL in retail sales

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hurdled to the top of the NFL’s year-end list for retail sales, the NFLPA announced on Wednesday.

The Super Bowl LIX champion and 2024 NFL rushing leader became the first running back since 2017 to finish No. 1 on the chart, which tracked the sales of officially licensed player products from March 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025.

Going beyond jersey sales, the rankings included more than 85 licensed products such as apparel, bobbleheads, accessories, figurines, wall decals, backpacks, drinkware and more.

“It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of player-driven consumer demand, offering a strong indicator of the NFL’s most marketable and influential athletes — impacting everything from endorsements to overall earning potential,” the NFLPA said in a press release.

Falling short to Barkley, just as his Kansas City Chiefs did in February’s Super Bowl, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was No. 2 on the list. He was in the top five for the seventh consecutive year.

Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts finished third, followed by fellow signal-callers Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) and 2024 league MVP Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills).

At No. 7, Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was the highest-ranked defensive player. Detroit teammate and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was next, with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson rounding out the top 10.

The NFLPA did not provide specific sales figures.

–Field Level Media

May 28, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during OTAs at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Eagles’ Saquon Barkley: Retirement could come ‘out of nowhere’

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is coming off a career year, complete with an NFL rushing title, a Super Bowl championship and even the cover of the “Madden 26” video game.

That said, Barkley raised a few eyebrows recently when he revealed his retirement plan is similar to that of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

“I’ll probably be one of those guys that it’ll be out of nowhere. I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year or two years or four years, and just be like, ‘Yeah, it’s over,’” Barkley said on Chris Long’s Green Light podcast.

“… My favorite player of all time is Barry Sanders, so probably similar to that. Maybe one day, it’ll be out of nowhere — I’ll be balling and be like, yeah, call it quits.”

Barkley, 28, is three years younger than Sanders was when the Detroit Lions legend opted to retire on the eve of training camp in 1999. Sanders was coming off his 10th straight 1,000-yard season when he made the shocking announcement.

Barkley is the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year after he led the league with 345 carries for 2,005 yards while scoring 13 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (all starts). He also caught 33 passes for 278 yards and two TDs.

He rushed 91 more times in four playoff games for 499 yards and five TDs, giving him a combined single-season record of 2,504 yards to pass Terrell Davis.

Barkley has rushed 1,546 times for 7,216 yards and 48 TDs and caught 321 passes for 2,378 yards and 14 scores in 90 career games (all starts) for the New York Giants (2018-23) and Eagles.

The Giants selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps with the ball over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Saquon Barkley hurdles way on to ‘Madden 26’ cover

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley vaulted onto the cover of the “Madden 26” video game.

EA Sports released a cover image on social media Monday featuring the Super Bowl champion hurdling a defender.

It pays homage to a viral highlight from Barkley’s remarkable 2024 season in a Week 9 win against Jacksonville.

Barkley leapt over Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones with an acrobatic, backward hurdle on a 14-yard reception.

“It was the best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said afterward, echoing the thoughts of many.

“Saquon you’re INSANNE!!” basketball great LeBron James posted on social media.

Barkley finished that game with 159 rushing yards en route to an NFL-leading 2,005 yards on the ground. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year added 499 more rushing yards in the postseason as Philadelphia ultimately upended the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.

Barkley, 28, is the first Eagles player featured on the cover of the popular franchise since quarterback Donovan McNabb on “Madden NFL 06.”

–Field Level Media

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni wields the Vince Lombardi trophy during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl celebration in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Philly revelry: Eagles celebrate Super Bowl LIX title

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Howie Roseman strolled to the podium, Lombardi Trophy in hand, and took a big puff of a celebratory cigar.

His forehead had been cut by a can of beer thrown in his direction, but the Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager didn’t seem to mind.

“I bleed for this city!” he bellowed.

Below, a sea of fans clad in Kelly green roared back in approval, not that they had ever stopped.

Cheers and beers were aplenty throughout downtown Philadelphia on Friday as scores of Eagles fans braved the cold to celebrate their team’s second Super Bowl championship.

Philadelphia secured its latest Lombardi in dominant fashion, blasting Kansas City 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX last Sunday in New Orleans.

The party started late Thursday night, with fans sleeping in tents along the parade route to ensure they’d get an up-close look at their heroes the following day.

After beginning on Broad Street, the parade route made its way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the Eagles took the podium atop the iconic “Rocky” steps to give speeches.

Players posed for pictures with fans along the way while catching beer cans thrown from the jubilant crowd. Tight end Dallas Goedert even made a one-handed snag on a hoagie tossed his way atop one of the parade’s double-decker buses.

Star running back Saquon Barkley made a young girl’s third birthday extra special by lifting her up and holding her as giddy family members recorded the interaction. Barkley also recognized one of the team’s ball boys in the crowd and helped him over the barricade to join the parade.

Roseman wasn’t the only one to fire up the sea of fans from the podium, as Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts, head coach Nick Sirianni and wide receiver A.J. Brown all sent the crowd into a frenzy when they approached the mic.

“You know, I told myself that when I got drafted, that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky steps until I won a championship,” said Hurts, who accounted for 293 yards and three touchdowns in the Super Bowl win. “And now we’re here.”

Sirianni, 43, secured his first title in his fourth season as the Eagles’ coach. He did it by avenging a three-point loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII two years earlier.

“This team is special. We can’t be great without the greatness of others and that certainly applies to our fans,” Sirianni said.

Brown, who caught a 12-yard touchdown from Hurts and finished with three receptions for 43 yards against Kansas City, clapped back at the criticism he received throughout the regular season.

“They said I was a diva, they said all I care about was stats,” Brown said. “You gonna get all those things wrong about me, but one thing you get right: I’m a (expletive) champion!”

Brown, Hurts and company got off to a shaky start in 2024, losing two of their first four games ahead of their Week 5 bye.

The Eagles soon found their stride and rattled off 10 straight wins to seize control of the NFC East. They clinched the division in Week 17 and finished 14-3 to secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Never having to leave Philadelphia throughout the NFC playoffs, the Eagles took care of the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders before exacting revenge on Kansas City and former Philadelphia coach Andy Reid, storming ahead 34-0 in the third quarter against the two-time defending champions.

“I’m so happy you didn’t have to go through a nail-biter game,” veteran defensive end Brandon Graham said. “It’s about us being gritty. We’re going to stay gritty.”

Friday’s parade was not entirely joyful, though.

Area police said two women were shot in the leg during an argument that occurred near the parade route, per ESPN. It is unclear whether the shooting was related to the celebration.

Last year, one person was killed and at least 22 others were wounded in a mass shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, Mo.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball against Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) in the first quarter in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Saquon Barkley breaks Terrell Davis’ yards from scrimmage record

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NEW ORLEANS — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley set a new NFL record for yards from scrimmage accumulated over the regular season and the playoffs on the first play from scrimmage of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On a first-down handoff, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year darted left, rumbled for four yards and passed Terrell Davis for the most regular-season and postseason combined yards from scrimmage with 2,764.

Davis’ mark, 2,762 yards, set with the Denver Broncos in 1998, had stood for 26 seasons.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft (New York Giants), Barkley had 2,283 yards from scrimmage in the regular season and came into the Super Bowl with 477 in the postseason — 2,760 total, just three yards shy of owning the mark for himself.

Barkley, celebrating his 28th birthday Sunday, is nearing another Davis record, that of regular-season and postseason combined rushing yardage. Davis totaled 2,476 yards rushing that same season in 1998.

Barkley came into Super Bowl LIX with 2,447 yards accumulated over the regular season (2,005) and the playoffs (442), just 29 shy of Davis’ rushing record.

Coming into the game, Barkley was also 268 yards away from passing Darren Sproles (3,027) for most all-purpose yards in a single season (including playoffs), set in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints.

–David Gladow, Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

NFL Honors: Saquon Barkley, Patrick Surtain II earn top awards

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NEW ORLEANS — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was selected the Offensive Player of the Year at the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony at the Saenger Theatre on Thursday in front of a packed house of NFL stars, alumni and celebrities.

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year.

Barkley was a phenomenon this season, rushing for a career-best (and league-leading) 2,005 regular-season yards. He is on the precipice of setting the record for total rushing yards (regular and postseason), sitting at 2,447 yards after a monstrous playoff run, just 30 yards shy of eclipsing the mark set by Terrell Davis in 1998.

Barkley joined the Eagles in the offseason after a six-year run with the New York Giants, where he totaled 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. He has logged nearly half of that production in one season in Philadelphia, spearheading the Eagles’ potent ground game during their push to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LIX appearance.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Barkley was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024. He also earned several Rookie of the Year awards in 2018 before being tabbed the PFWA Offensive Player of the Year and winning the Bert Bell Award (top NFL player) in 2024.

Surtain, in his second season as a first-team All-Pro performer, is widely regarded as one of the premier cover cornerbacks in the league at the age of 24.

A four-year pro and three-time Pro Bowler, Surtain also was named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year.

The only year Surtain wasn’t a Pro Bowler was his rookie year, when he was named to the All-Rookie team while recording four interceptions. He matched that total in 2024, returning one of his four picks for a 100-yard touchdown.

With career 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles and 232 combined tackles, Surtain continues to gain accolades for his outstanding play.

Other awards to be handed out Thursday night included:
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
AP Comeback Player of the Year: QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Salute to Service Award: TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
NFL Inspire Change Tribute
FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year

–David Gladow, Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and running back Saquon Barkley (26) warm up before the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Different roster, different outcome? Eagles tout newcomers’ experience

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NEW ORLEANS — It was just two years ago that the Philadelphia Eagles were last in the Super Bowl.

That experience in a 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was helpful to the many players who will face the Chiefs again in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.

But the differences between that Eagles team and this Eagles team are greater than they might appear from the outside.

“Every team is different,” Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts said Thursday. “Every season requires a different version of each individual player. We’ve got a ton of different players on our team. We’ve got a lot of young players starting and playing pivotal roles. You just have to navigate that and find your way as a team for that year.”

The Eagles have navigated this season quite well, especially after a 2-2 start, winning 15 of their last 16 games.

“We’ve been able to play disciplined ball,” Hurts said. “We’ve been able to play ball and be on the same page and find ways to win.”

Philadelphia’s offensive identity has evolved since the team’s last Super Bowl with the addition of running back Saquon Barkley, who debuted with a 2,000-yard rushing season in 2024. The effectiveness of the running game helped Hurts finish fifth in the NFL with a career-best passer rating of 103.7.

“He’s a great passer and reads the defense great,” head coach Nick Sirianni said of Hurts. “And then he has this ability that, when something breaks down, to make big plays happen that way as well. He just knows how to win.”

Sirianni was asked about key Eagles that weren’t on the last Super Bowl team, such as first-year free-agent acquisitions in Barkley (Giants) and linebacker Zach Baun (Saints), as well as two rookie draft choices starting in the secondary — cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (first-round pick from Toledo) and nickelback Cooper DeJean (second-rounder from Iowa).

The coach explained that the term “big game” is relative.

“You tell Cooper DeJean that the Iowa-Iowa State game is not a big game,” Sirianni said. “Maybe to the outside world it’s not as big as the Super Bowl, but in that moment for Cooper it is. It’s what the player feels in his heart at that particular moment.”

Toledo’s biggest rival didn’t come to Sirianni as easily as Iowa’s did, but he finally came up with Kent State and Akron as examples.

“So these guys have big-game experience,” Sirianni said. “They’re not rookies anymore. They’ve played in so many games and have so many big-game experiences. I know how much these guys put in and how they empty the tank every time they go out and play.”

Hurts said this version of the Eagles has benefited from the closeness of a half dozen defensive players that were college teammates at Georgia. Defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. and linebacker Nakobe Dean are all starters, though Dean suffered a season-ending knee injury in the wild-card playoff victory against the Packers.

Reserve defensive backs Kelee Ringo and Lewis Cine are also former Bulldogs. Davis, Dean and Cine are in their third seasons and Carter, Smith and Ringo are in their second seasons, entering their first Super Bowl with Philadelphia.

Georgia won back-to-back CFP championships in 2021-22.

“I think a big part of (the team’s closeness) has to do with the Georgia background on defense,” Hurts said. “I think that starts with Nakobe Dean and all those guys that were able to play ball in college together and bring their ways to the league. I think that has a big impact on our culture. On defense, how they play, how together they are, and I think that kind of seeps through the team.”

–Les East, Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) speaks with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after the game during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley lead MVP finalists

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got the better of Baltimore Ravens counterpart Lamar Jackson last Sunday when their respective teams battled in the AFC divisional round in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Named finalists for the Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award, Allen will hope to get the better of Jackson, fellow signal-callers Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) and Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and running back Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) when the award is presented at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 6.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL completed voting before the beginning of the playoffs.

Allen, 28, threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns this season and rushed for 531 yards and 12 scores.

Jackson, 28, is vying for his third MVP award (2019, 2023). He threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns this season and rushed for 915 yards and four scores.

Burrow, 28, threw for NFL-best totals in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43).

Goff, 30, threw for 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns this season.

Barkley, 27, rushed for a league-best 2,005 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns.

Barkley, Burrow and Jackson also joined Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase as finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Burrow also is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, joining Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.

Finalists for all eight postseason awards are:

Most Valuable Player
–Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
–Jared Goff, Detroit Lions quarterback
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Player of the Year
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
–Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens running back
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Rookie of the Year
–Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders tight end
–Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders quarterback
–Malik Nabers, New York Giants wide receiver
–Bo Nix, Denver Broncos quarterback
–Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver

Defensive Player of the Year
–Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker
–Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end
–Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end
–Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos cornerback
–T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker

Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman
–Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins linebacker
–Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams linebacker

Comeback Player of the Year
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
–J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers running back
–Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots cornerback
–Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety

Coach of the Year
–Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
–Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
–Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
–Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
–Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs.

Assistant Coach of the Year
–Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
–Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator
–Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
–Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
–Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

–Field Level Media

Jan 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts guide Eagles past Rams, into NFC title game

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts smiled as he described his 44-yard touchdown run.

“Saquon needed a break,” Hurts said of teammate Saquon Barkley. “So I told him I’ll get one.”

Barkley happily did the rest.

The Eagles escaped with a 28-22 win over the visiting Los Angeles Rams in an NFC divisional-round playoff game on Sunday afternoon. Barkley finished with 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the snow and caught four passes for 27 yards.

Hurts completed 15 of 20 passes for 128 yards and rushed for a touchdown for Philadelphia. The Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship Game, where they will host the Washington Commanders next weekend.

Matthew Stafford completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams. Kyren Williams finished with 19 carries for 106 yards, and Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson each had a touchdown catch.

Barkley scored a 78-yard rushing touchdown to make it 28-15 Philadelphia with 4:36 remaining. He cut to his left and sprinted untouched past the Los Angeles secondary.

The Rams pulled within 28-22 on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Parkinson with 2:48 to go.

The Eagles punted on their next possession, and the Rams had a chance for a go-ahead touchdown. Philadelphia’s defense held firm, as Stafford threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-11 from the Eagles 22-yard line to prompt a turnover on downs.

“This game in a lot of ways epitomized the resilience, the grit, the ability to overcome adversity,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, whose team started 1-4 before making a late run into the playoffs. “We just had a couple things that we couldn’t overcome. There will be some things that we can learn from.

“But this is the time for gratitude, for appreciation. I love this group, I love this coaching staff, I love these players.”

The score was even at 13-all after Rams kicker Joshua Karty made a 34-yard field goal with 7:37 to play in the third quarter.

Philadelphia inched ahead 16-13 with 2:19 left in the third quarter when Jake Elliott made a 44-yard field goal.

The Rams pulled within 16-15 after a safety with 26 seconds to go in the third quarter. Neville Gallimore came up with a sack in the end zone on the play.

The Eagles made it 19-15 on a 23-yard field goal by Elliott with 13:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Elliott connected again, this time from 37 yards out, to make it 22-15 with 6:18 to play.

The Eagles opened the scoring on their first drive of the game. Hurts faked a handoff to Barkley, tucked the ball and sprinted right for his 44-yard score. Elliott missed the ensuing extra-point attempt, though.

The Rams responded with a touchdown on the next possession to grab a 7-6 advantage. Stafford fired a strike to Higbee for a 4-yard TD.

The Eagles struck again with another big-play touchdown to pull ahead 13-7. Barkley found an opening at the line of scrimmage and burst to his right for a 62-yard score with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Barkley’s performance was strikingly similar to his 255-yard, two-TD game against the Rams in the regular season.

Los Angeles cut its deficit to 13-10 on a 30-yard field goal by Karty with 12:47 to go in the first half.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said his players deserved credit for holding the Rams in check.

“We played championship defense,” Sirianni said.

Hurts twisted his knee awkwardly when he was sacked in the third quarter. He returned to the field to help the Eagles hold on for the win and avoided specifics afterward when asked about the play and how he was feeling.

“I finished the game,” Hurts said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs off the field after win against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Record chase over: Eagles to rest RB Saquon Barkley

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson will remain the NFL’s single-season rushing leader for at least one more year.

With the Philadelphia Eagles’ postseason secured, head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters on Wednesday that the team is “gonna rest some guys” in what proves to be a meaningless season finale against the visiting New York Giants. Chiefly among that group is star running back Saquon Barkley, who needed 101 yards to break Dickerson’s hallowed mark of 2,105 yards set with the Los Angeles Rams during a 16-game season in 1984.

Health, however, remains the top priority for the Eagles (13-3), who are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC heading into their finale versus the Giants (3-13).

“It’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player,” Sirianni said. “But you try to do what’s best for the team. Our goals are to have success and play good the next game we play.”

Barkley has rushed for at least 101 yards in 11 games this season, including Sunday’s 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys when his 167 yards made him the ninth player in NFL history to reach 2,000.

On Sunday, Barkley told reporters that he will abide by Sirianni’s decision with respect to the season finale against his former team.

“Whatever his decision is, I’m all for it,” Barkley said at the time. “If his mindset is, we’ll go out there and try it, I’ll go out there and try it. If his mindset is, let’s rest and get ready for this run, I’m all for that, too … I came here to do something special. Breaking a record is special, but I want a banner up there. I think we all do.”

In his first season with the Eagles, Barkley leads the NFL in rushing attempts (345), rushing yards (2,005) and yards from scrimmage (2,283).

Also on Wednesday, Sirianni said Jalen Hurts remains in concussion protocol and that a decision has yet to be made on which quarterback will start against the Giants in light of Kenny Pickett’s rib injury. Tanner McKee or Ian Book could get the nod for the Eagles.

Hurts and Pickett were both injured during Philadelphia’s 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22. Pickett threw for 143 yards in that contest as well as versus the Cowboys before McKee relieved him and completed 3 of 4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles also opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Dallas Goedert on Wednesday.

Goedert was placed on injured reserve Dec. 7, six days after he sustained a knee injury during the Eagles’ 24-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Goedert, 29, started all nine games he has played this season and totaled 38 receptions on 46 targets for 441 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles selected Goedert in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has 345 receptions for 4,030 yards and 24 TDs in 92 career games (75 starts).

–Field Level Media