The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a two-year, $41.2 million extension with Saquon Barkley, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The Eagles confirmed the extension, but did not announce the numbers.
Per the report, the contract includes $36 million in guaranteed money and has an additional $15 million in escalators available. Details of the escalators were not initially reported. Barkley will sign the extension one season into a three-year, $37.75 million deal he signed to join the Eagles last offseason from the rival New York Giants.
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The contract for Barkley culminates a historic season in which he led the league with 2,005 rushing yards and 2,283 yards from scrimmage while tallying 15 touchdowns as the offensive driving force for the Super Bowl champion Eagles. Barkley’s rushing total was the eighth-highest in NFL history and earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Saquon Barkley’s historic 2024 season that ended with a Super Bowl win has earned him a lucrative new contract. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Mitchell Leff via Getty Images)
Barkley’s 2,504 combined rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs are the most in a single season in NFL history. Barkley rushed for 499 yards in four playoff wins and eclipsed the record previously held by Terrell Davis during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Barkley, who had languished in prior seasons playing in a tepid Giants offense, proved again to be one of the league’s dominant offensive weapons and now has a contract that resets the running back market. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was previously the NFL’s highest-paid running back with a $16 million annual salary.
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Barkley celebrated his new deal with a statement on social media.
“Overflow!” Barkley wrote. “Grateful for the Eagles organization, grateful for my team, grateful for the amazing fans in Philly. Fly Eagles Fly.”
Barkley, 28, is now signed in Philadelphia through 2028, his age-31 season. He’ll remain a centerpiece of the Eagles’ plans as they attempt to win their third Super Bowl title since the 2017 season.
