When asked to use active players to craft the ultimate running back, Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis kept it short. The former Steelers great chose former New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, as his lone choice.
“I’ve got one, Saquon Barkley,” Hall of Fame running back shows high praise for former Giants Pro Bowler
“I don’t even have to build one,” said Bettis. “I’ve got one, Saquon Barkley. Just package him and ship him out to all 32, and we have a great one.“
It makes sense as to why Bettis thinks so highly of Barkley. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the league’s most dynamic running backs. He rushed for over 5,000 yards in his six-season Giants tenure and was instrumental in helping the team win their first playoff game in over a decade in 2022.
Barkley has also shown ability to be just as dynamic in the passing game, accumulating 2,100 receiving yards in his career to go along with 12 touchdowns. His ability to be a dual-threat out of the backfield is the main driver behind Bettis’ comments.
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Barkley is now a member of a high-octane Philadelphia offense
The former Giants star now joins a hated rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley will be a part of an explosive Philadelphia offense that includes Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, and AJ Brown, following a similar career path to Bettis.
Bettis spent the first three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams prior to being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996. What followed was a 10-season stint with the Steelers including a win in Super Bowl XL.
Perhaps Bettis sees a bit of himself in Barkley, and figures that Barkley’s move to the Eagles could be beneficial for his legacy, much like the move to the Steelers gave a boost to his own legacy in the 1990s.
