This is the situation New York Giants owner John Mara hoped would never happen—Saquon Barkley returning to MetLife Stadium, but this time, as a Philadelphia Eagle.
Barkley is set to face the Giants for the first time in his career, but when asked how he feels about it, he admitted he’s still unsure what emotions Sunday’s game at MetLife will bring. One thing he’s clear on, though, is that he doesn’t feel the need to prove anything to his former team.
“Nah, I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to them,” Barkley told reporters. “I’m grateful for the opportunity the Eagles organization—Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, and everyone—has given me. That’s who I’m focused on proving myself to, along with my teammates. At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning, whether I have 300 yards or 10. As long as we win, I don’t have any ego about showing the Giants what they let go.”
Barkley has already shown this season that he’s still one of the top running backs in the NFL, ranking fourth in the league with an average of 114.8 scrimmage yards per game. He’s rushed for 482 yards and scored five touchdowns so far, proving he’s still a force on the field.
This game has been circled on calendars since spring, when Barkley left the Giants to sign a three-year, $37.8 million deal with their division rivals, the Eagles. Drafted by the Giants as the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, Barkley spent six seasons in New York, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and two Pro Bowl selections. He was a fan favorite and loved by the team’s ownership. However, the last couple of years were challenging—he was franchise-tagged before the 2023 season and, despite signing a reworked one-year deal, was unable to agree on a longer-term contract.
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This negotiation saga even played out on Hard Knocks, with John Mara famously saying he’d “have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia.” Well, it happened, and now Barkley is preparing to take the field at MetLife for the first time as an Eagle.
Interestingly, Barkley holds the record for most rushing yards in the history of MetLife Stadium, with 2,601 yards, according to NFL Research. However, his last road game at MetLife was one to forget—back in 2019, he was held to just 1 yard on 13 carries against the New York Jets. Sunday will mark his second time playing a road game at the stadium, but this time, as part of a rivalry he never expected to be on the other side of.
Reflecting on the upcoming game, Barkley admitted, “I’m still processing what it will mean to me. I’ll treat it like I do every game—every game is important, and every game is special because you never know when your last one will be. There’s definitely history, though, and going back there will be interesting. I don’t have an exact answer yet on how I’ll feel.”
Focus for the future
As he grapples with his emotions, Barkley is determined to stay focused and not let it affect his preparation. “I’ll be locked in, but I don’t want to make it more than it is,” he said. “I’ve done that before, and I didn’t like how it turned out. It’s going to be a fun atmosphere. I love being part of something like this—two historic teams facing off in a big division game. I’m excited for that.”
No matter the records, Eagles-Giants matchups always carry extra weight because of the history and rivalry between the two teams. This game, however, is also the “Saquon game,” with fans and analysts alike eager to see how the Giants crowd will greet him and what postgame interactions with former coaches and teammates will look like.
When asked about the reception he expects from Giants fans, Barkley said, “I don’t think I’ll get booed. This rivalry is much bigger than what happened between me and the Giants in the offseason. I know how Giants fans feel, having been on the other side. I don’t know what the environment will be like, but as a competitor, you’ve got to embrace it and use it for extra motivation.”
Although Barkley has been a standout for the 3-2 Eagles, he’s coming off his toughest game of the season—a 47-yard performance on 18 carries in a win against the Cleveland Browns. This Sunday, he’ll face a familiar Giants defense that ranks 10th in the league and will certainly be looking to limit his impact.
As for seeing this rivalry from both sides, Barkley said, “If you’d asked me a year or two ago, I’d never have thought I’d be on this side of it, but it’s cool, it’s fun.”
Despite the emotions tied to the game, Barkley remains clear on one thing: there’s no ill will toward his former team. “It’s no hate,” he said. “But I know it’s a big game, a division rival, and I’m going in there fully focused to help us win.”
