In a league where running backs often struggle to secure lucrative long-term deals, Saquon Barkley redefined the market. The Philadelphia Eagles’ star tailback made history by becoming the highest-paid player in his position. He secured a two-year contract extension worth a staggering $41.2 million.
Saquon Barkley’s Record-Setting Contract As NFL Running Backs
This deal cemented Barkley’s status as the first running back to earn over $20 million annually. This has set a precedent that could reshape how teams value elite rushers moving forward. Barkley’s contract extension was a well-earned reward for a dominant season—one of the best seen in the NFL.
Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources. The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an… pic.twitter.com/h5iEf5IWe2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
In his first year with the Eagles, he rushed for an astonishing 2,005 yards and found the end zone 13 times during the regular season. That feat made him only the ninth player in league history to surpass the 2,000-yard rushing mark. This has instantly etched his name among the all-time greats.
His ability to break away for long runs made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. Barkley set a new league record with seven touchdown runs of 60 or more yards in a single season. These include playoffs—three more than any other player in history. Even more impressively, three of those came in the postseason.
By the time the season concluded, Barkley had shattered multiple records. His 2,504 rushing yards (including playoffs) made him the all-time single-season leader in that category, and his 2,857 yards from scrimmage set another league record.
He joined an elite group of just three running backs—Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk being the others. Especially those who have won Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and a Super Bowl title in their careers, further solidifying his legacy.
The Future of NFL Running Back Contracts
Before Barkley’s extension, the running back market had already begun to see an upward trend, particularly in the past two off-seasons. His initial deal with the Eagles in 2024 made him the third-highest-paid running back at $12.6 million per year, trailing only Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs. But with McCaffrey signing a new extension and players like Jacobs and Joe Mixon also inking fresh deals, the position’s perceived value has been steadily rising.
Among the top-paid runners, Jonathan Taylor’s extension, signed in 2023, was the oldest, highlighting how quickly the market has shifted. With the NFL salary cap increasing and teams beginning to recognize the importance of a dominant ground game, running backs are once again securing significant financial investments from their franchises.
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Barkley’s contract is likely to have a ripple effect on future negotiations for elite running backs entering the market. College stars eyeing NFL stardom can now see a clear path to earning significant paydays if they perform at an elite level, with rushing attacks becoming more integral in team strategies. Particularly in high-powered offenses like Philadelphia’s, running backs might regain their status as cornerstone players rather than replaceable assets.
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