Saquon Barkley Eagles Impact on the Eagles Goes Beyond the Stats
NEW ORLEANS – A few weeks ago, Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata received an unexpected text about the Saquon Barkley Eagles impact. The message? He could pick up his Rolex from Dom DiSandro, the team’s chief security officer, affectionately known as “Big Dom.”
“When we first got him,” Mailata recalled of Barkley’s surprising arrival in free agency last March, “he recognized what he had in our O-line, and we knew what we had in him. And during OTAs, he told us, ‘If I win the rushing title, I’ll get you guys Rolexes.'”
Almost a year on, Barkley, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, had made good on that promise – not only on the field with more than 2,000 rushing yards but off it, as well.
“He was a man of his word,” Mailata said, smiling. “And we hadn’t known him long enough to know he was serious. But that just shows his true character.”
Barkley, who transferred to the Eagles after an incredible career with New York Giants, wanted to prove himself beyond being a star player. He wanted to be recognized for his contributions to his team, not just in the playing field but even in the locker room and even in practice sessions.
“You gotta talk things into existence, right?” Barkley said of his pledge to reward his offensive line, whom he now considers “one of the greatest ever.”
Fulfilling his promise wasn’t as simple as just buying the watches, though. “Those are some big guys,” Barkley laughed. “I had to get extra watchband links.”
As the Eagles get ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Barkley has already etched his name in history with this season’s record-breaking campaign. His 2,000-yard rushing season is only the ninth in NFL history, and on Sunday, with 30 more yards, he will break the 26-year-old single-season rushing record by Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, which includes the postseason. His seven touchdown runs of 60 yards or more this season are also an all-time record.
However, Barkley insists personal accolades were never his primary goal. “I came here to compete for a championship,” he said. “Everything else—the records, the yards—came along with it.”
From the time he walked into the locker room, Barkley fit right in with the room full of veteran leadership. He was able to compete with them in the weight room, share rounds of golf, and share his faith.
It was easy to welcome Saquon,” Mailata said. “His personality, the way he genuinely cares about people-it means a lot to us, and I think it means a lot to him.”
Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo wasn’t so different: “He’s a great person. He accepted us, we accepted him-it was a perfect fit.
Even head coach Nick Sirianni, with whom Barkley had developed such a specific reputation that initially made the latter wary of him, has won the day. “A year ago, I probably detested him,” admitted Barkley. “But now, our relationship has grown so much. He really cares about his players.”
For many, Barkley’s success in Philadelphia was no surprise. Giants legend and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan saw it coming from afar as he mentored him during his stint in New York.
“Saquon’s a leader, period,” Strahan told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s hard to go to a division rival, but he backs up everything he says. As a Giants fan, it hurts to see him thrive in Philly, but I don’t know if he would’ve had this season in New York. He has the right support system now.”
Even Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whose brother Jason is a former Eagles All-Pro center, knew what this meant. “We knew exactly what was gonna happen when they got Saquon,” he said. “He’s a generational talent, and Philly had all the right pieces around him.
Barkley’s connection with the city has been just as strong as his bond with the team. The thunderous cheers he receives at Lincoln Financial Field prove that he’s already becoming a fan favorite.
“The team means everything to me,” Barkley said. “From Day 1, they welcomed me with open arms. I feel like I’ve been here for seven years.”
And if all goes to plan, the Super Bowl rings might just fit better than the Rolexes.
“All of them were too small,” laughed Mailata. “We’ve got big hands!”
