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Super Bowl LIX: Eagles star Saquon Barkley breaks NFL single-season rushing record vs. Chiefs

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•02/09/25
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© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has had a season for the record books. Not only has he cleared over 2,000 rushing yards, but he helped to carry Philadelphia all the way to the Super Bowl. Only nine times in NFL history has an NFL running back cleared the 2,000-yard threshold.

And on Sunday night, he accomplished yet another historic feat, shattering the NFL single-season rushing yardage record (including playoffs), held by Terrell Davis (2,476 yards). Coming into the Super Bowl, Barkley had 2,447 total rushing yards, putting him second all-time.

He made history yet again on Sunday night, right before they went in for halftime with Philadelphia leading the Chiefs, 24-0. Here’s the play.

Earlier in the first half, Barkley also pushed his total scrimmage yards to 2,764, the most in NFL history for a single season, including the playoffs. It’s also his 28th birthday on Sunday.

According to Next Gen Stats, Barkley had 339 rushing yards after contact in the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl, which was one yard shy of the most by any player in the postseason since 2017 (Derrick Henry–2019). Barkley recorded 1,176 rushing yards after contact during the regular season, the second-most in the league and 246 yards more than his previous career-high set during his rookie season with the New York Giants in 2018 (930 yards).

If Barkley and the Eagles can pull of the win on Super Bowl Sunday, he’ll also cash in on a Super Bowl bonus of $250,000 in his contract.

In Philadelphia’s 55-23 win over Washington in the NFC Championship Game, Barkley was once again masterful, with 15 carries for 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His 2024-2025 season will surely go down as one of the greatest campaigns ever by a running back in league history.

Saquon Barkley having a magical season

Saquon Barkley is having a year he will never forget. The Penn State alum finished the 2024 regular season with 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns on 345 carries. In the Eagles’ first two playoff games, Barkley rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries.

Barkley rushed for a team single-game playoff record 205 yards in a win against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. “It was the same message as last week – the most important thing is winning football games, especially around this time of year,” Barkley said at his locker after the game, per the Eagles’ official website.

On3’s Brian Jones also contributed to this article.