As Saquon Barkley donned the black Eagles logo hoodie and dressed his daughter in his longtime rival’s team, a new reality set in.
Barkley no longer has to worry about figuring out how to get the Giants to upset the favored Eagles.
He is an Eagle.
“We’ve been on the worse side of the rivalry, I guess you could say, the last couple of years,” Barkley said Thursday afternoon at an introductory news conference.
Indeed, Barkley needs no introduction in New York or Philadelphia after spending the first six years of his career — one winning season — as the face of the Giants.
Eighteen months of extension negotiations with the Giants came to nothing, so he agreed Monday to a three-year, $37.5 million contract as a free agent with the Eagles.
Barkley, 27, has no regrets about choosing the Eagles over offers from the Texans and Bears. Just about the sudden way you left.
Reflecting on announcing his own signing with a hastily worded farewell and two Eagles emojis, Barkley said: “I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could have said goodbye properly.’
Take 2 happened later Thursday when Barkley wrote to X “to acknowledge all the Giant fans who have supported me and my family over the past six years. When I was drafted here I wanted my impact off the pitch to rival the achievements we had on it and I can only hope I came close [to] doing this.”
Calling the last three days “a whirlwind of emotions,” Barkley thanked ownership and the organization, said Giants fans “will forever hold a place in my heart,” and concluded, “The NFL is a business and I hope everyone can respect my decision.
Barkley’s welcome began Thursday when he stopped by the practice facility and new teammate Brandon Graham was waiting to joke with him about the fact that tackles are now off limits.
The Eagles denied all New York-based media access to the news conference.
“I’m just ready to take the business side out of it,” Barkley said. “In the last two years, so many people have come to talk to me about getting me [franchise-] marked or talk about contracts. Now it’s all done. The business is ready. We can keep the most important thing – and that is to win football games.”
In addition to the guaranteed money, which exceeded any of the Giants’ offers made between November 2022 and the most recent one in July 2023, the Eagles gave Barkley a chance to play near his childhood home in Copley, Pennsylvania, where his children can to be near their grandparents, in front of fans who supported him at Penn State and with the best offensive line and playmaking lineup (Jaylen Hurts, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith) of his career.
“At the point where I’m at in my career, to be able to start over is good,” Barkley said. “I feel like I’m a special player and I feel like I still have a lot left. I have a lot to prove and I can’t wait to get on the field with these guys and show it to the world.”
Barkley averaged 92.1 yards per scrimmage and scored seven touchdowns in nine games against the Eagles as the Giants went 2-7.
He missed another three as part of his 24 career games missed due to injuries (14 until a torn ACL in 2020).
“When I found out the Eagles were interested in me, I was definitely excited about it,” Barkley said. “Looking from afar, everything it’s about, the culture here, the fans here, I’m just happy to be a part of this organization. I’m ready to go.”
