Saquon Barkley, the former Penn State star running back turned NFL legend cleared up any potential retirement rumors on Tuesday, keeping it short and to the point.
“I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon,” Barkley said when asked about it Tuesday.
Barkley spent three seasons with the Nittany Lions from 2015-2017. Barkley shined as a star at Penn State, rushing for 3,843 yards and punching in 43 touchdowns on his way to being selected 2nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
In 2017, Barkley finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, the highest for a Penn State player since 2002 at the time.
Since entering the NFL, Barkley has picked up where he left off in college, rushing for 7,216 yards and scoring 48 touchdowns in his seven-year career. Barkley is coming off the best season of his career in 2024, his first with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year thanks to a league-high 2,005 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns as he helped the Eagles win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
Prior to the 2024 season, the 28-year-old Barkley’s career appeared to be trending downwards. Injuries and inconsistent play riddled the backend of his tenure with the Giants. With his career now revitalized, it is clear that Barkley doesn’t intend on stopping anytime soon. In fact, the Penn State legend feels as though he is just getting started.
“I feel like I’m entering my prime,” Barkley said.