The Philadelphia Eagles’ offseason addition of running back Saquon Barkley is officially super.
Philly handed the ball to Barkley 15 times in a 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders to claim the NFC title, and he did what he’s done all year: set records. In the opening quarter, Barkley extended his record for rushes of 60+ yards in a season with his seventh, a 60-yard scamper, for Philadelphia’s first touchdown. A four-yard TD in the fourth put the game away for good. Barkley finished with 118 yards and three scores.
By reaching the Super Bowl, Barkley locked up an additional $250,000 bonus, with another $250,000 now being tacked onto his 2025 base salary as well, according to NFL.com reporting. His All-Pro first team selection earned him another $1 million in bonus money and salary escalation earlier this month. Recognizing Jalen Hurts’s role in short-yardage situations, Barkley’s contract notably has zero dollars in incentives tied to touchdowns. Hurts scored three times on the ground and once through the air in the victory.
Philadelphia’s seven rushing touchdowns set a new mark in NFC Championship game history and tied the record for most in any playoff game.
While Barkley’s contract was largely reported as a three-year deal including $37.75 million in signing fees and salary, the agreement was worth up to $46.75 million if he triggered every incentive clause. With a Super Bowl win—and the additional $250,000 bonus that would come with it—Barkley would collect $15 million overall for his first year as an Eagle. He’s guaranteed $26 million over the course of the contract. Among running backs, only Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey make more in compensation per year, before bonuses.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie will likely be happy to sign any of those bonus checks if Barkley keeps up his current level.
“We’re always looking for inefficiencies in the market,” Lurie said this offseason. “What we pay Saquon Barkley, take another position of what that’s getting in the league, and you tell me, is it better to pay Saquon that kind of money? Or a player at a different position that’s getting the exact same amount of money?”
Barkley missed out on his chance to set the regular season rushing record when he was told to rest in Week 18, 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s 1984 mark of 2,105 yards. That won’t be happening in a couple weeks, when Barkley will have a chance to eclipse Terrell Davis’ season-long record (regular and postseason) of 2,476 yards, set in 1998. With 118 yards on Sunday, Barkley is now just 29 yards away.
“I’m aware of what the record is and how close I am,” Barkley said before Sunday’s game. “But winning and moving on is what matters.”
Barkley, like every Eagle, has also earned $282,000 in CBA-negotiated playoff incentives, with a final total of $357,000 on offer if Philadelphia can secure a second Super Bowl trophy.
