Saquon Barkley’s appearance on the cover of the Madden NFL video game marks a milestone for the Philadelphia Eagles, making him the first Eagle to grace the cover since former quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2005. Unlike McNabb, a homegrown talent drafted and developed by the Eagles, Barkley arrived in Philadelphia as a former New York Giant, a rival team. To some fans, Barkley’s move to the Eagles branded him a defector. However, his impact has been undeniable, leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory and breaking the franchise’s rushing record.
The New York Giants’ decision to let Barkley walk has been widely criticized as a monumental mistake. McNabb, speaking to Fox News Digital, didn’t mince words: “They made a real big mistake, and I think it’s going to cost them a little bit.” Yet, as significant as the Giants’ blunder was, McNabb believes it pales in comparison to a decision the Eagles made over a decade ago—one that still haunts the franchise.
McNabb, who played his entire Eagles career under head coach Andy Reid, points to the Eagles’ decision to fire Reid after the 2012 season as a far greater error. Reid, now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, has since cemented his legacy as one of the NFL’s elite coaches. Meanwhile, the Eagles traded McNabb to the rival Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in 2010, a move he sees as the first misstep in a series of questionable decisions. “There’s a couple mistakes they made. I was first and Andy followed,” McNabb said. “Now you sit back, and you start to watch, and you see how [Reid’s] career has gone to a different level.”
Reid’s tenure with the Eagles was impressive, boasting a 130-93 (.583) regular-season record and a 10-9 (.526) playoff record over 14 years. Despite leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance, he never secured a championship in Philadelphia. Since taking over the Chiefs in 2013, however, Reid has transformed the franchise, achieving a 143-53 (.730) regular-season record and an 18-8 (.692) playoff record. He has won three Super Bowls, reached two additional ones, and is credited with drafting and developing superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
When asked which mistake was bigger—the Giants letting go of Barkley or the Eagles parting ways with Reid—McNabb didn’t hesitate: “To be honest with you, I’ll say the Eagles losing Andy.” He reflected on the consistency and success he and Reid shared in Philadelphia, noting that after their departures, the Eagles struggled to maintain that level of stability. “It wasn’t as consistent as it was, and he was to blame for it,” McNabb said, referring to the team’s decision to scapegoat Reid. “You look at what Andy has done now and what possibly he could have done if he was still in Philadelphia. I’d think that Andy would rank first in that decision that they made.”
Ironically, the Eagles, powered by Barkley’s standout performance, defeated Reid’s Chiefs in this year’s Super Bowl, avenging their 2023 loss to Kansas City. Barkley’s pivotal role in the championship season underscored the Giants’ error in letting him go. McNabb, however, remains gracious toward his former rivals. “That’s why we just say, ‘Hey, we appreciate you. And good luck to you guys going forward,’” he said of the Giants.
While Barkley’s departure from New York will sting Giants fans for years, McNabb’s perspective highlights a deeper wound for the Eagles. The decision to move on from Andy Reid, a coach who has since redefined success in Kansas City, looms as a far greater miscalculation—one Philadelphia has yet to fully recover from.