Saquon Barkley was 14 rushing yards away from breaking his single-game career-high (189) with the Eagles holding a 28-3 lead in the fourth quarter against his former team on Sunday, but the 27-year-old star running back respectfully elected not to go back into the game.
"I mean this gives me chills to think about, this guy is such a great teammate and all he cares about is winning," Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni explained after the game. "And he looked at me and said, 'Let the other guys eat.' I'm just like, 'You're special dude.'"
The Eagles released a mic'd up clip of the conversation between Barkley and Sirianni during the game.
Howard Eskin, the Eagles' sideline reporter for 94WIP, gave his perspective of the moment which may have been briefly caught on camera by FOX.
"I could see he indicated to Nick Sirianni that he wasn't going back in," Eskin told Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio on Monday's 94WIP Midday Show. "He wanted [Kenneth] Gainwell to score that touchdown so badly. When Gainwell came off of the field he hugged him. That's impressive to see a player do that."
Barkley rushed for 176 yards on just 17 carries in his return to MetLife on Sunday in an Eagles' 28-3 win over the Giants. Barkley's 10.4 yards per carry is an Eagles' franchise record (minimum 15 carries).
Barkley, in his first season with the Eagles, is having a career-year. Barkley already has 658 rushing yards (3rd in NFL) on 108 carries, averaging career highs in yards per carry (6.1) and yards per game (109.7)—both currently rank second best in the NFL. Barkley has six total touchdowns in six games as well.