Barkley has not been shy about his personal goal. After a training camp practice in August, not long after leaving New York for the rival Eagles on a three-year, $38 million free agent contract that the Giants showed no interest in matching, Barkley said plainly: "I want to be the best of all time."
He took a big swing by putting together one of the best seasons by a running back in NFL history in 2024, now just the ninth player to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
Becoming "2K Sa" -- the nickname Barkley posted on social media shortly after hitting the mark against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 -- was hard-earned. The Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, native went from high school backup to Penn State star to the Giants' No. 2 overall pick. There were Pro Bowls and peaks but also contract squabbles and losing seasons and crushing injuries, most notably a torn right ACL he attributes, in part, to running angry to silence his doubters -- an experience that shaped his approach to his MetLife Stadium return in late October.
