Total Pro Sports
Cover your eyes and ears, Eagles fans- Saquon Barkley might not be around as long as you’d hope. The star running back, fresh off a record-breaking season and a Super Bowl ring, just dropped a surprise that has fans and analysts buzzing.
During a recent appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Barkley suggested that his NFL exit might come without warning.
“I’ll probably be one of those guys that it’ll be out of nowhere,” Barkley said. “I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year or two years or four years, and just be like, ‘Yeah it’s over.’”
Barkley’s comments hit harder considering the year he just had. In 2024, the 28-year-old racked up 2,005 rushing yards, leading the NFL in carries, yards per game, and total touches. He also found the end zone 15 times and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Eagles rewarded him with a two-year, $41.2 million extension, making him the first running back to reach the $20 million annual salary mark.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Eagles superstar RB Saquon Barkley told @greenlight not to be surprised if he retires “out of nowhere” within the next couple of years.
“I’ll probably be one of those guys that it’ll be out of nowhere. I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year… pic.twitter.com/OIpxN3RNmQ
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) June 4, 2025
Still, Barkley doesn’t see himself chasing longevity for its own sake. When asked about his football future, he referenced his idol, Barry Sanders, who famously retired at age 31 despite still being at the top of his game. “Probably similar to that,” Barkley said. “Maybe one day it will be out of nowhere. I’ll probably be balling and just be like, yeah, and call it quits.”
With his new deal keeping him in Philadelphia through the 2028 season, Barkley will hit that same age milestone Sanders did. Whether he sticks it out until then or pulls the plug earlier remains to be seen.
For now, Barkley insists his passion isn’t fading. “I don’t think I will ever lose that passion. I’m just a competitor,” he said. “The competitive nature is always going to be there.” That mindset helped power one of the greatest seasons a running back has ever produced.
The idea of Barkley walking away while still dominant might be hard to accept. But if this past year has shown anything, it’s that he’s on his own timeline, and not afraid to stick to it.
Also Read: Saquon Barkley Net Worth 2025: All About His Contracts, Endorsements & More
