NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Saquon Barkley evades questions about personal accolades like they are lunging linebackers, but admitted Wednesday that one of his goals is to match a feat only accomplished by Emmitt Smith and Terrell Davis.
That goal is to become just the third man in NFL history to win a rushing title and a Super Bowl in the same season.
“Hopefully, I’m able to be the third one to do it,” Barkley told UPI on Wednesday at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. “That’s a goal of mine.”
Once a shining star among an otherwise dim New York Giants constellation, Barkley now burns even brighter while playing behind a stellar Philadelphia Eagles offensive line that paved the way for his 2,005-yard season.
With 30 more yards, he can break Davis’ NFL record for the most combined rushing yards between a regular season and postseason. But the Eagles ball carrier said he’d be happy with just five yards against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX.
But his main objective is matching Davis and Smith by winning his first Super Bowl ring. With another win, Barkley, who made the playoffs just once through his first six seasons, can become the first running back in three decades to win a rushing and Super Bowl titles in the same season.
Davis was the last running back to accomplish the feat. The Hall of Famer led the league with 2,008 rushing yards during the Denver Broncos’ 1998-99 campaign.
Smith, the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, accomplished the feat three times — 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1995-96.
The Dallas Cowboys legend remains the only player in league history to win a rushing title, as well as regular-season and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same year (1993-94).
“It’s hard to have a successful season as an individual and to go win the Super Bowl,” said Barkley, who also celebrates his 28th birthday Sunday. “It’s hard to do that.”
Even if he doesn’t win NFL MVP honors on Thursday or get Sunday’s Super Bowl MVP nod, Barkley could further improve his resume for Hall of Fame consideration by matching Smith and Davis, who won a combined five Vince Lombardi Trophies.
Barkley’s Hall of Fame monitor score on Pro Football Reference is 33.55, with the average Hall of Fame running back receiving a score of 106.95.
He admits that his decision to leave the Giants to sign with the Eagles last off-season improved his career trajectory.
“It definitely helped my career out,” Barkley said. “That’s why I wanted to come here. I feel like there is a still lot left in me and I still have the chance to be one of the best running backs to ever play. Coming here has definitely helped.
“It works when you have the chemistry we have on this team, the love that we have for each other. There are so many superstars and so many well-known names on this team, but all we want to see is each other go out there and play at a high level. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Barkley, known for his ability to hit holes quickly, break tackles and evade defenders by what often appear to be gravity-defying measures, says his key is keeping his shoulders squared up to his foes so he can maximize vision.
Several Eagles team captains said the franchise-record breaking campaign was not something they saw coming.
They started to believe it was possible as they recognized the veteran’s determination and hunger for a championship.
“It’s one of those situations where it’s not planned before the season,” Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said. “As the season goes on, you see where his numbers are and he has the chance to get it. The intention is there. The drive is there. … He is a special talent.”
Defensive end Brandon Graham said his first concern when Barkley joined the team was to determine if he was similarly focused on the Eagles’ championship efforts.
“You’re you all in with us,” Graham said. “That’s all that matters. He is all in. Trust me.”
Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata’s first indication about Barkley’s hunger for a title was watching how competitive he was at ping pong, including a time when he refused to leave the table — until he won — during organized team activities. Cornerback Darius Slay said he knew Barkley was all-in the day he signed his contract.
“I knew for sure there were other teams offering him more money,” Slay said. “He took less to come here because he wanted to win. That showed me everything.
“His stats tell you 2k. That says a lot. He is determined to be the best of the best.”
The Giants’ tepid approach at keeping Barkley became what Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie called a “no-brainer” signing on Monday.
His presence on the field Sunday will be the biggest difference between the Eagles and Chiefs lineups that faced off two years ago, when the Chiefs started their attempt to win three-consecutive titles. Now, he could help the Eagles stop the Chiefs from becoming the NFL’s first three-peat champion.
“I could spend the rest of this press conference talking about what Saquon has meant to this football team and not even talk about anything on the field,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.
