"I never lost hope, I never lost faith": Feeling ‘Disrespected’ by Giants, Saquon Barkley turned doubt into dominance this season

The departure of Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants was not just another routine free agency move—it was a defining moment for both the franchise and the star running back. When the Giants decided against offering Barkley a long-term deal, it signaled the end of an era. Injuries had taken their toll on his body, limiting his time on the field, while the Giants' financial priorities steered them away from investing heavily in a position that the modern NFL often undervalues.


Despite being franchise-tagged in both 2022 and 2023, Barkley was ultimately allowed to walk in 2024, with the Giants choosing not to apply the tag for a third consecutive year. This decision effectively placed the former No. 2 overall pick in the open market, where the Philadelphia Eagles wasted no time in securing his services.
For Barkley, the lack of an official contract offer from the Giants after July 2023 spoke volumes. Feeling overlooked by the team that once saw him as a franchise cornerstone, he opted for a fresh start with a division rival. The Eagles landed the dynamic playmaker on a three-year, $37.75 million deal, with $26 million guaranteed—ensuring that Barkley would not only get the contract he desired but also an opportunity to prove his worth on a grand stage.

While Barkley acknowledged feeling slighted by the Giants’ decision, he quickly shifted his mindset from resentment to determination. His move to Philadelphia became less about proving the Giants wrong and more about seizing his moment to achieve greatness.
"Has that moment crossed my mind? Uh, yes, I'm super competitive," Barkley admitted during an interview on The Stern Show. "Did I feel disrespected at the time? A hundred percent, but the bigger chip on my shoulder, the thing that drives me the most is being obsessed with wanting to be great and I took that more of an opportunity, meaning going to Philly, as an opportunity that I can still, everything that I wanna accomplish in my career, whether it's, you know, winning Super Bowls and MVPs or Hall of Fame jackets, all that I wanted to accomplish was still there."
Rather than dwelling on how the Giants handled his exit, Barkley embraced the challenge of a new chapter in Philadelphia. He recognized that the NFL is a business, and while the Giants could have handled things differently—possibly even tagging or trading him—he respected the organization’s decision.
"The chip on my shoulder was that I've been through a lot. I had a lot of ups and downs and injuries and adversity, but here I am and I never lost hope. I never lost faith," Barkley explained. "So, this is my moment, so now I gotta capitalize on my moment... It's the NFL. I've seen worse, to be honest. I've seen worse and they could have done me wrong, they could have tagged me, could have forced me, they could have traded me. What they did in our business, was kind of the respectable thing to do and which there's no surprise because Mr. Mara and Tisch and that whole organization's first class. So I took it more as a motivation of my story's not done, and I can continue to add more chapters to the story."

If Barkley’s first season in Philadelphia is any indication, he has indeed turned the page and started writing a compelling new chapter. In a record-breaking campaign, he became just the ninth running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season. His dominance on the ground helped the Eagles secure a Super Bowl victory while earning him the prestigious Offensive Player of the Year award.

This was not just a return to form—it was the best season of Barkley’s career, made possible by an elite offensive line that allowed him to maximize his explosiveness. The Eagles, who have consistently fielded strong running backs in recent years, finally have a generational talent at the position—their most gifted rusher since LeSean McCoy.
Now, with momentum on his side and a championship pedigree added to his résumé, Barkley’s focus remains on what’s ahead. If his mindset and health remain intact, there’s little standing in the way of him achieving his ultimate goals—whether it’s more championships, an MVP award, or a future Hall of Fame induction.
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For the Giants, the regret of letting Barkley go might only grow deeper with each dominant season he produces in Philadelphia. But for Barkley, the transition has been nothing short of a dream come true—one that allows him to prove that his story is far from over.