The NFC East rivalry just got a whole lot spicier. Saquon Barkley, the former New York Giants star running back, has thrown gasoline on the fire with his latest comments about his old team and his former quarterback, Daniel Jones. After both players were let go by the Giants, they’ve found new homes and new success—leaving Big Blue fans questioning the team’s front-office decisions and wondering if New York was the real problem all along.
After the 2023 NFL season, the Giants made a bold move that raised eyebrows across the league: they prioritized extending quarterback Daniel Jones while letting Saquon Barkley, their dynamic running back, walk away in free agency. The decision seemed questionable at the time, but it became outright baffling less than a year later when the Giants also parted ways with Jones, citing his inability to deliver the expected results.
Now, both players are thriving elsewhere, and the Giants’ faithful are fuming. Barkley, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles—New York’s bitter NFC East rival—capped his first season in Philly with a Super Bowl ring. Meanwhile, Daniel Jones has resurrected his career with the Indianapolis Colts, starting the 2025 season with an impressive 2-0 record as their starting quarterback. The Giants’ loss has become their rivals’ gain, and Barkley isn’t holding back on what he thinks about it.
Despite being on different teams, the bond between Barkley and Jones remains unbreakable. In a recent interview with Zach Berman of TheAthletic.com, Barkley didn’t mince words when expressing his support for his former teammate. “Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles and myself, I want no one else to perform at a high level [more than] Daniel Jones,” Barkley said on Saturday. “The fact that he’s off to a hot start… to go out there now and play at a high level and get to show people the player that I know and the person I know. I’m a big believer in anything, it might not happen in football, but the way he carries himself and the way he works and the way he competes, it’s going to show at some point.”
Barkley’s words carry weight. They’re not just a nod to Jones’ talent but a subtle jab at the Giants’ organization, suggesting that New York failed to unlock the potential of two players who are now shining elsewhere. For Giants fans, it’s a bitter pill to swallow—especially with Barkley now donning the Eagles’ midnight green and celebrating a championship with their archrivals.
While Barkley’s Super Bowl triumph with Philadelphia has already cemented his legacy, Daniel Jones is just beginning to rewrite his story in Indianapolis. The Colts, off to a surprising 2-0 start in 2025, are benefitting from Jones’ revitalized play. His poise, decision-making, and ability to make plays under pressure have sparked hope among Colts fans, who see their new quarterback as a potential catalyst for something special.
However, the road to a Super Bowl for Jones and the Colts is far from guaranteed. While Indianapolis is building a promising foundation, they’re not yet considered among the AFC’s elite contenders. Still, Jones’ early success suggests he may have finally found the right environment to thrive. Perhaps, as Barkley hinted, all Jones needed was to escape the dysfunction in New York to chase the Super Bowl ring he’s always dreamed of.
For Giants fans, watching Barkley and Jones flourish elsewhere is a painful reminder of what could have been. Barkley’s Super Bowl victory with Philadelphia stings deeply, given the storied rivalry between the two teams. Now, with Jones thriving in Indianapolis, the Giants’ front office is under intense scrutiny. Did they misjudge their stars, or was the team’s system the real issue?