On the shoulders of running back Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles dispelled the Washington Commanders, 55-23, on Sunday and earned a trip to Super Bowl LIX.
Barkley accounted for 122 total yards and three touchdowns, including a 60-yard score on the Eagles’ first offensive play of the game.
After the dominating victory, Barkley celebrated with his children on the field as confetti rained down. Elsewhere, Barkley’s parents, Alibay Barkley and Tonya Johnson, basked in their son’s success but not without taking aim at New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen.
Saquon Barkley’s parents Alibay Barkley and Tonya Johnson #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Cw3SskC4sr
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) January 27, 2025
“You really want me to answer that? Everybody else knows why it didn’t happen,” Johnson said when asked why Barkley never reached this level of success in East Rutherford.
“It’s great for him to finally be somewhere where he was able to showcase his talent without people talking about this or that and hearing that running backs don’t deserve this or deserve that. Yeah, OK, now we see.”
Although Schoen wasn’t mentioned by name, it’s not difficult to connect the dots. The general manager did not — and does not — believe running backs are worth top-of-the-market value and he ultimately let Barkley walk for what amounted to $2 million.
Whether or not that’s the right approach, it can’t be denied that Barkley has taken the Eagles to new heights and reestablished the importance of the running back position. However, it’s also true that had he remained with the Giants, he’d be at home watching from the couch right now.
Barkley found the perfect fit and it just so happens to be with the Giants’ chief NFC East rivals. And it just so happens that his success makes Schoen look foolish, whether that’s fair or unfair.
