Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley recently made headlines with his bold assessment of the team’s performance during the 2024 NFL season. In an appearance on the “Exciting Mics” podcast, hosted by teammates Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean, Barkley declared that the 2024 Eagles should be considered among the top five NFL teams of all time. He highlighted their impressive turnaround after a 2-2 start, culminating in a dominant Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a 40-22 score. Barkley emphasized the team’s unity and excellence across all phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—as key factors in their success. New York Post+5as.com+5Philly Sports Network+5Bleeding Green Nation+2New York Post+2as.com+2

Barkley’s individual contributions were significant; he led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards in the regular season and set a league record with 2,504 combined rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs. He also defended the team’s use of the “Tush Push” play, criticizing attempts by NFL team owners to ban the effective strategy and calling such efforts “soft.” Philly Sports Network+1Sportskeeda+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3New York Post+3Bleeding Green Nation+3

While Barkley’s statements reflect his pride in the team’s achievements, some analysts suggest that labeling the 2024 Eagles as a top-five team in NFL history may be an overstatement. Nonetheless, Barkley’s perspective underscores the confidence and camaraderie within the Eagles organization following their championship season