Saquon Barkley, fresh off a stellar 2024 season that saw him hoist the Super Bowl trophy with the Philadelphia Eagles and earn the coveted Madden 26 cover, is at the peak of his powers at age 28. NFL insiders are buzzing, suggesting his 2025 season could somehow surpass his career-best performance. With his prime years seemingly ahead, fans are eager to watch the dynamic running back dominate for years to come. But a recent comment on Green Light with Chris Long has sparked concern about how long Barkley will actually stick around in the NFL.
When asked if he might retire in his prime, much like his idol Barry Sanders (who stepped away at 31) or three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald (who retired at 32), Barkley dropped a bombshell that has Eagles fans and the NFL community on edge. “That’s a great question,” Barkley said. “I’ll probably [be] one of those guys that it would be out of nowhere. 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.’ I don’t think I will ever lose that passion.”
Full clip on Saquon’s retirement https://t.co/xBvIJbjdbJ pic.twitter.com/j8k3oW0yrv
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) June 4, 2025
He went on to emphasize his competitive drive, noting that it will always burn strong. Yet, he pointed to Sanders, his all-time favorite player, as an example of how he might exit the game. “The competitive nature is always going to be there,” Barkley said. “I like, probably my favorite player of all time is Barry Sanders, so probably similar to that. Maybe one day, like it’ll be out of nowhere, I’ll probably be ballin’, and just be like, yeah, call it quits.”
This revelation has sent shockwaves through the NFL world. The idea of Barkley, in the midst of a potentially historic career, pulling a Sanders and vanishing from the game at the height of his abilities is both intriguing and unsettling. If he follows in the footsteps of Sanders or Donald, his time in the league could be shorter than fans hope, potentially leaving only a few seasons left to witness his brilliance.
For now, Barkley remains a cornerstone of the Eagles’ offense, and his 2025 season is poised to be a spectacle. But his comments hint at a mindset that values instinct over a drawn-out farewell, leaving fans to wonder when—or if—he’ll decide to walk away. Hopefully, the NFL is blessed with many more years of Saquon Barkley’s electrifying play before he makes that fateful call.