Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s retirement from the league could come “out of nowhere,” he told Chris Long on the podcast “Green Light with Chris Long” on Wednesday.
Long, a former Eagles defensive end, asked Barkley whether he wants to retire “at the highest level” or if he imagines himself playing “until the wheels fall off.”
“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 said. “I don’t think I will ever lose that passion. The competitive nature is always going to be there.”
Full clip on Saquon’s retirement https://t.co/xBvIJbjdbJ pic.twitter.com/j8k3oW0yrv
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) June 4, 2025
“One day I’ll probably be balling and just be like yeah, call it quits,” said Barkley, who EA Sports announced Monday will be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 26.
What should we make of Barkley’s comments?
It’s noteworthy that Barkley references one of his heroes, Barry Sanders, in this conversation. Sanders retired suddenly at age 30, just days before the start of training camp. Sanders later released a statement that, in part, said his “desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it.”
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Barkley said he doesn’t think he’ll “ever lose that passion” for the game, but he’s a uniquely reflective player who draws his satisfaction from the impact he can have on the game. Call it legacy. Call it what you will. But Barkley’s recent comments underline that he knows there will be one day when he’ll know he’s done all he can.
Barkley has already accomplished plenty. He was the NFL’s rookie of the year. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro. In one year in Philadelphia, he won his first rushing title, broke Terrell Davis’ full-season rushing record and won Super Bowl LIX. He’ll be thinking about how much more he needs to accomplish before he’s satisfied with his legacy.
It’s clear he doesn’t have a firm timeline, but the mere beginning of this conversation will induce anxiety throughout the Eagles fan base. It certainly will be a topic reporters will focus on throughout this upcoming season. Barkley, comfortable in the spotlight, is inviting that discussion.
The Sanders reference will serve as an unofficial expectation for a timeline. Barkley will turn 30 on Feb. 9, 2027. He just signed a contract extension through the 2028 season.
Will he make it to age 31? Will this be his last contract? — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer
(Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
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