History of Saquon Barkley in Timeline
Saquon Barkley is a professional American football running back currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. He gained prominence during his college career at Penn State University, where he established numerous school records for his offensive contributions over three seasons. Barkley opted to enter the NFL draft after his junior year, foregoing his senior season.
February 9, 1997: Saquon Barkley Born
On February 9, 1997, Saquon Rasul Quevis Barkley was born. He would later become a professional football running back.
2001: Moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
In 2001, Saquon Barkley and his family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, seeking a safer environment.
2004: Terrell Owens' Eagles Debut
In 2004, Terrell Owens also scored three touchdowns in his debut with the Eagles, a feat matched by Saquon Barkley in 2024.
2005: Moved to Coplay, Pennsylvania
In 2005, the Barkley family relocated to Coplay, Pennsylvania.
2006: Comparison to Reggie Bush
By late February 2018, some mock drafts projected Saquon Barkley as high as the second selection overall, the highest for a running back since Reggie Bush in 2006.
2013: LeSean McCoy's Single-Season Rushing Record
In 2013, LeSean McCoy set the Eagles' single-season rushing yards record, which was later broken by Saquon Barkley.
2014: Mr. Pennsylvania Football Award
In 2014, Saquon Barkley was named co-winner of the Mr. Pennsylvania Football award for the top player in divisions AAA/AAAA.
October 17, 2015: Rushed for 194 Yards Against Ohio State
On October 17, 2015, Saquon Barkley rushed for 194 yards on 26 carries against top-ranked Ohio State during his freshman year at Penn State.
2015: Track and Field Achievements
In 2015, as a senior, Saquon Barkley won Eastern Pennsylvania Conference gold medals in the 100-meter dash and long jump. He also set a Whitehall High School record in the 100-meter dash.
2015: Freshman Year at Penn State
In 2015, as a true freshman at Penn State, Saquon Barkley quickly gained playing time, showcasing his talent with significant performances, including a 115-yard game with a touchdown against Buffalo and a 195-yard, two-touchdown game against Rutgers. However, his season faced a setback when he missed two games due to injury in October 2015.
November 1, 2016: Maxwell Award Semi-Finalist
On November 1, 2016, Saquon Barkley was named a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award.
December 3, 2016: Big Ten Championship Game
On December 3, 2016, Saquon Barkley helped Penn State recover from a 28-7 deficit to beat Wisconsin 38-31 in the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game.
2016: Sophomore Year at Penn State
In 2016, Saquon Barkley rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown in the first game against Kent State, and scored five touchdowns in the week two game against Pitt.
2017: Heisman Trophy and Award Recognition
In 2017, Saquon Barkley achieved significant recognition, finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and third in Maxwell Award voting. He also received multiple national and Big Ten Conference awards, highlighting his outstanding performance and impact that year.
2017: Big Ten Opener
In Penn State's 2017 Big Ten opener against Iowa, Saquon Barkley recorded 358 all-purpose yards. He also set a school record for most all-purpose yards in a single game, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
2017: 2017 Rose Bowl
In the 2017 Rose Bowl, Saquon Barkley had 25 carries for 194 yards and a 79-yard rushing touchdown. Despite his efforts, USC won the game 52-49.
2017: Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
In the first game of the 2017 season against Akron, Saquon Barkley was named co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after he ran 14 times for 172 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a long run of 80 yards. He also caught two passes for 54 receiving yards.
December 31, 2017: Declared for NFL Draft
On December 31, 2017, Saquon Barkley declared his intention to forgo his senior year at Penn State and enter the 2018 NFL draft.
February 2018: Rising Draft Stock
By late February 2018, some mock drafts projected Saquon Barkley as high as the second selection overall in the NFL draft.
July 22, 2018: Signed Rookie Contract with Giants
On July 22, 2018, Saquon Barkley signed a four-year rookie contract with the New York Giants, worth $31.2 million fully guaranteed.
2018: Entering NFL Draft
Entering the 2018 NFL draft, Barkley was widely projected to be a top 10 NFL pick.
2018: Featured in ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue
In 2018, Saquon Barkley was a featured athlete in the 10th Edition of ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue.
2018: Drafted by New York Giants and Named Offensive Rookie of the Year
In 2018, Saquon Barkley was selected second overall by the New York Giants in the NFL draft. He set numerous NFL and team records, made the Pro Bowl, and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2018: "Saquon Barkley Day" Declared
In 2018, the Pennsylvania General Assembly voted to make March 14 a state holiday known as "Saquon Barkley Day." He participated in a parade in his hometown.
2019: Ranked in NFL Top 100 and Team Captain
Entering his second NFL season, Saquon Barkley was ranked No. 16 on the NFL's Top 100 players for 2019. He was also chosen by his teammates as one of seven team captains for the 2019 season.
2019: Elected to 2019 Pro Bowl
In recognition of his rookie season accomplishments, Saquon Barkley was elected to the 2019 Pro Bowl, where he helped the NFC win the Skills Showdown.
September 22, 2020: Placed on Injured Reserve
On September 22, 2020, Saquon Barkley was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, which ended his 2020 season.
2020: Injuries in 2020 Season
In 2020, Saquon Barkley faced challenges with injuries during the season.
2020: NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2020, Saquon Barkley was ranked 31st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list after finishing his sophomore season with 1,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons, a Giants' record.
April 28, 2021: Giants Pick Up Fifth-Year Option
On April 28, 2021, the Giants picked up the fifth-year option on Saquon Barkley's contract, guaranteeing him $7.217 million for the 2022 season.
September 10, 2021: Jersey Number Retired
On September 10, 2021, Whitehall High School retired Saquon Barkley's jersey number (#21) in honor of his achievements.
November 3, 2021: Placed in COVID-19 Protocol
On November 3, 2021, the Giants announced that Saquon Barkley was placed in the NFL's COVID-19 protocol.
2022: Named to Pro Bowl
In 2022, Saquon Barkley was again named to the Pro Bowl, showcasing his continued high level of performance.
2022: Pro Bowl Selection and Rushing Leader
In 2022, Saquon Barkley was named to the Pro Bowl and finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards. He rushed for 1,312 yards and ten touchdowns and also had 57 receptions for 338 yards, and led the NFC in rushing yards.
2022: Fifth-Year Option Guaranteed
In 2022, Saquon Barkley's fifth-year option on his contract came into effect, guaranteeing him $7.217 million for the season.
March 7, 2023: Giants Place Franchise Tag
On March 7, 2023, the New York Giants placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Saquon Barkley.
2023: Signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
Following the 2023 season, Saquon Barkley became a free agent and signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
2023: NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2023, Saquon Barkley was ranked 31st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2023: 2023 Season Performance
In the 2023 season, Saquon Barkley rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns, with 41 receptions for 280 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 14 games.
March 13, 2024: Signs with Philadelphia Eagles
On March 13, 2024, Saquon Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, including $26 million guaranteed. He expressed feeling disrespected by the Giants during negotiations.
September 6, 2024: Eagles Debut with Three Touchdowns
On September 6, 2024, Saquon Barkley made his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing for 109 yards and scoring two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in a 34–29 victory over the Green Bay Packers. This earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
2025: Super Bowl Commercial for Ramp
In 2025, Saquon Barkley starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Ramp, a financial technology company in which he is an investor.
