The Philadelphia Eagles sent social media into a frenzy yesterday after sharing jaw-dropping footage of superstar running back Saquon Barkley's offseason training regimen, showcasing the record-breaking rusher performing what can only be described as a superhuman squat.
The Eagles posted the video Tuesday featuring their prized running back casually squatting an astounding 585 pounds multiple times, as if it were merely a warm-up set. The impressive display left not only fans but also Barkley's teammates visibly stunned, with several Eagles players gathering around to witness the extraordinary feat of strength.
"That's a lot of weight for most NFL offensive linemen, let alone a running back," one team source commented. "But that's exactly what makes Saquon special."
The viral clip comes just months after Barkley's historic 2024 campaign, which was one for the record books as he became just the ninth running back ever to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a regular season. Even more impressively, he set a new NFL record for combined rushing yards in a season including playoffs with an astounding 2,504 yards, breaking Terrell Davis' previous mark of 2,476.
The timing of the video's release has also raised eyebrows around the league, coming just before another round of NFL owners meetings where the controversial "tush push" play is reportedly up for discussion again.
Philadelphia has perfected this short-yardage tactic largely due to the remarkable lower-body strength of players like Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has his own impressive squatting resume with reported lifts exceeding 600 pounds.
Barkley, often nicknamed "SaQuads" or "Quadzilla" for his legendary 29-inch quadriceps, joined Philadelphia last offseason after six seasons with the division rival New York Giants. He signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract and immediately rewarded the Eagles’ investment with the greatest season by a running back in franchise history.
With a fresh contract now in place and clearly no signs of slowing down physically, Eagles fans are already wondering if the 28-year-old phenom could somehow top his historic 2024 performance in the upcoming season. While repeating such unprecedented production would be a tall order for any athlete, Barkley's commitment to continually pushing physical boundaries makes it impossible to rule anything out.
The Eagles are scheduled to open their training camp in late July, where fans will get their first glimpse of Barkley and the rest of the team as they prepare to defend their championship.