Why Saquon Barkley Is Unlikely to Reach 2,000 Rushing Yards Again This Season

SPORTIVO
Article arrow_drop_down

Saquon Barkley will not rush for 2,000 yards in 2025, and it has nothing to do with a Super Bowl hangover or a Madden curse.

More than a century of history stands in the way of the Philadelphia Eagles star, who became the ninth member of the 2K club in 2024. It’s a club with zero two-time members.

The first eight players to reach the milestone missed a combined 28 games in their follow-up campaigns and averaged just under 1,080 rushing yards that season — a fine total, for sure, but barely halfway to NFL immortality.

Barkley is only 28 and still in his prime, but he would have to survive another heavy workload after leading the league with a career-high 345 carries in 16 games last season. He will undoubtedly encounter more stacked boxes and other run-targeting game plans, plus Philadelphia will face the NFL’s fourth-toughest schedule (.561 opponents’ winning percentage in 2024).

Those are a few of the factual, physical barriers in his path, to say nothing of the aforementioned mythical roadblocks as both a reigning Super Bowl LIX champion and “Madden NFL 26” cover model.

Not even Barkley can hurdle that many obstacles.

Terrell Davis, the only player besides Barkley to run for 2,000 yards and lift the Lombardi Trophy in the same season, pulled off his Denver double with 2,008 yards in the 1998 regular season and a Broncos win over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII.

In 1999, following the retirement of Broncos quarterback John Elway, Davis played only four games and gained 211 yards on the ground — the low-water, next-season mark for 2K members. Davis rushed for only 1,194 more yards in his career after his 1998 MVP campaign, retiring ahead of the 2002 season after a final “Mile High Salute.”

Fellow Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who at 29 became the oldest club member with 2,053 yards for the Detroit Lions in 1997, came the closest to pulling off back-to-back 2K seasons with 1,491 in his farewell ride in 1998.

Kudos to club members Eric Dickerson, Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson and Jamal Lewis, who all ran for at least 1,000 yards the year after breaking the 2K barrier. Dickerson still holds the NFL single-season record with 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

Derrick Henry got the closest to posting nonconsecutive 2,000-yard seasons, trucking to 1,921 yards in his first year with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 after amassing 2,027 yards with the Tennessee Titans in 2020. Henry, for what it’s worth, is the only man in NFL history with two 1,900-yard seasons.

Adam “Happy Gilmore” Sandler has promised to cast Henry in one of his films if he puts 2,000 on tape in 2025.

If Barkley gets there in 2025, Philly fans will demand a starring role in the next “Rocky” remake — or at least a cameo behind the bar at Paddy’s Pub on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

Cringe warning: The crossover from gridiron glory to the silver screen has happened before, by the inaugural member of this club, in fact. If only Orenthal James Simpson was still best known for his turn in the “Naked Gun” flicks or for racking up 2,003 yards in just 14 games with the Buffalo Bills in 1973.

Barkley recently said he never set out to rush for 2,000 yards last season, that “it kind of just happened,” admitting it “would be pretty cool” to do it again. But that’s not what motivates him.

“The thing that drives me is the same thing that had been driving me since I was a little kid, and I’ve said it since I’ve gotten into the league (and) I don’t mean it in an arrogant way, (but) I want to be the best running back to ever play, or at least one of the best running backs to ever play,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s a way you can prove who’s the best.”

Actually, we can think of about 2,000 ways, but that’s not happening. Not this year, anyway.

This news was originally published on this post .

About the author

About the author call_made

SPORTIVO

More posts

trending_flat
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7

<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]

trending_flat
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7

<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]

trending_flat
UFC Fight Night results: Khalil Rountree Jr. bests Jamahal Hill in Baku, remains relevant in title picture

What was expected to be a slugfest between elite light heavyweights on Saturday turned into a tentative, technical affair that played directly into the hands of Khalil Rountree Jr.In the main event of UFC's inaugural trip to Azerbaijan, Rountree (14-6, 1 NC) showcased everything he learned from a gutsy title loss to Alex Pereira last October by patiently accruing a trio of knockdowns against former champion Jamahal Hill (12-4, 1 NC) in a commanding victory via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 twice) inside Baku Crystal Hall. CBS Sports also scored the UFC Fight Night headliner 49-46 for Rountree. "I didn't come in here underestimating Jamahal. I had full belief in myself and my abilities but I didn't underestimate him," Rountree said. "The plan was to be smart. I had made some mistakes in the Alex fight. In this one, I was able […]

trending_flat
Fever star Caitlin Clark says historic All-Star voting returns is ‘exactly what the league needs’

Fan voting for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game opened earlier this month and runs through June 28. The league announced the first round of returns on Friday, and to no surprise the top of the list was dominated by Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates.  Clark's 515,993 votes were the most of any player, followed by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at 484,758. The top-two vote getters will be named captains and draft their teams on July 8, ahead of the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on July 19.  There were four Fever players in the top 10 -- Clark, Aliyah Boston (3rd), Kelsey Mitchell (7th) and Lexie Hull (9th) -- and eight in the top 40. The Liberty were the only other team that even had four players in the top 40. 2025 WNBA All-Star Game: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa […]

trending_flat
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh sets MLB records with 30th home run

CHICAGO — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered in the ninth inning of a 10-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, his 30th long ball of the season. On Friday, Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th homers of the season, passing Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench with the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. Raleigh now also has the mark for most home runs before the break by a switch-hitter.Advertisement“Thirty home runs is impressive,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And we’re not even at the halfway point. He’s good.”Catcher, switch-hitter or just any player, what Raleigh is doing is rare. Only eight other players had hit 30 or more home runs in their first 75 games of the season. The last to do it were Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez in 2001.Raleigh […]

Cruzeiro negocia renovação de contrato com administradora do Mineirão

Raposa busca renovação de contrato com Minas Arena (Foto: Bruno Haddad/Cruzeiro) Raposa visa seguir mandando suas partidas no estádio, mas deseja maiores vantagens em um novo acordo, segundo dirigente A relação entre Cruzeiro e Mineirão deve ganhar mais um capítulo em breve. Segundo informação do GE, o clube negocia com a Minas Arena para seguir mandando jogos no estádio administrado pela empresa, e estas estão em tratativas bastante avançadas para a renovação. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Melhora do contrato O principal ponto ao qual a Raposa deseja trabalhar de forma mais ampla são as condições do novo acordo a ser assinado com a concessionária do estádio. O antigo vínculo, segundo o clube, tem condições as quais o clube não vê como ‘favoráveis’ e tenta trabalhar para a melhoria destas nas negociações do futuro contrato Pedro Junio, vice-presidente cruzeirense falou sobre o assunto […]

Related

trending_flat
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7

<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]

trending_flat
Cal Raleigh Hits MLB-High 30th Home Run, as Mariners Lose to Cubs, 10-7

<!--> Ian Happ homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs held off Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners for a 10-7 victory on Saturday.Raleigh opened the ninth inning with his major league-leading 30th homer after he also went deep twice on Friday. The long ball made Raleigh the first MLB player to hit 30 home runs in his first 75 games of a single season since Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits his 30th HR of the year --> <!-->Luke Raley hit a two-out single for Seattle, but Daniel Palencia closed it out when he retired Donovan Solano on a foul popup.Michael Busch, Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered for Chicago on a 94-degree day at Wrigley Field with a 20-mph wind blowing toward center field. Brad Keller (3-0) […]

trending_flat
UFC Fight Night results: Khalil Rountree Jr. bests Jamahal Hill in Baku, remains relevant in title picture

What was expected to be a slugfest between elite light heavyweights on Saturday turned into a tentative, technical affair that played directly into the hands of Khalil Rountree Jr.In the main event of UFC's inaugural trip to Azerbaijan, Rountree (14-6, 1 NC) showcased everything he learned from a gutsy title loss to Alex Pereira last October by patiently accruing a trio of knockdowns against former champion Jamahal Hill (12-4, 1 NC) in a commanding victory via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 twice) inside Baku Crystal Hall. CBS Sports also scored the UFC Fight Night headliner 49-46 for Rountree. "I didn't come in here underestimating Jamahal. I had full belief in myself and my abilities but I didn't underestimate him," Rountree said. "The plan was to be smart. I had made some mistakes in the Alex fight. In this one, I was able […]

trending_flat
Fever star Caitlin Clark says historic All-Star voting returns is ‘exactly what the league needs’

Fan voting for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game opened earlier this month and runs through June 28. The league announced the first round of returns on Friday, and to no surprise the top of the list was dominated by Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates.  Clark's 515,993 votes were the most of any player, followed by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at 484,758. The top-two vote getters will be named captains and draft their teams on July 8, ahead of the All-Star Game in Indianapolis on July 19.  There were four Fever players in the top 10 -- Clark, Aliyah Boston (3rd), Kelsey Mitchell (7th) and Lexie Hull (9th) -- and eight in the top 40. The Liberty were the only other team that even had four players in the top 40. 2025 WNBA All-Star Game: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa […]

trending_flat
Mariners’ Cal Raleigh sets MLB records with 30th home run

CHICAGO — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh homered in the ninth inning of a 10-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, his 30th long ball of the season. On Friday, Raleigh hit his 28th and 29th homers of the season, passing Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench with the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break. Raleigh now also has the mark for most home runs before the break by a switch-hitter.Advertisement“Thirty home runs is impressive,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And we’re not even at the halfway point. He’s good.”Catcher, switch-hitter or just any player, what Raleigh is doing is rare. Only eight other players had hit 30 or more home runs in their first 75 games of the season. The last to do it were Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez in 2001.Raleigh […]

Cruzeiro negocia renovação de contrato com administradora do Mineirão

Raposa busca renovação de contrato com Minas Arena (Foto: Bruno Haddad/Cruzeiro) Raposa visa seguir mandando suas partidas no estádio, mas deseja maiores vantagens em um novo acordo, segundo dirigente A relação entre Cruzeiro e Mineirão deve ganhar mais um capítulo em breve. Segundo informação do GE, o clube negocia com a Minas Arena para seguir mandando jogos no estádio administrado pela empresa, e estas estão em tratativas bastante avançadas para a renovação. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Melhora do contrato O principal ponto ao qual a Raposa deseja trabalhar de forma mais ampla são as condições do novo acordo a ser assinado com a concessionária do estádio. O antigo vínculo, segundo o clube, tem condições as quais o clube não vê como ‘favoráveis’ e tenta trabalhar para a melhoria destas nas negociações do futuro contrato Pedro Junio, vice-presidente cruzeirense falou sobre o assunto […]

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

About SPORTIVO

Sportivo Network is a dedicated social platform for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and scouts. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete looking for opportunities, a coach searching for talent, or simply a sports lover wanting to connect with like-minded people, Sportivo is your go-to network. With features like direct messaging, profile showcasing, and talent scouting, Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. Here, you can share your achievements, interact with professionals, and open doors to the next level in your sports journey. Join Sportivo Network – because every great athlete deserves to be discovered!
Copyright © 2025 SPORTIVO News. and SPORTIVO Network. All rights reserved.

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation