Every athlete has their pre-game ritual. Some listen to a specific playlist. Others visualize every play. But imagine making a promise to yourself. A solemn vow about the biggest stage in American sports. You refuse to even glimpse it until you’ve earned your place on the field. That takes a special kind of resolve.
This isn’t about avoiding a party. It’s about preserving a dream. For one superstar, that dream was too sacred to experience as a spectator.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley revealed he never attended a Super Bowl before playing in one. He skipped the event twice, even as a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. His reason was profoundly simple. Barkley stated,"I decided to skip out on that moment because I wanted my first time to be in that game when I play in it." Even legendary advice couldn’t fully sway him.
Saquon recalled a conversation with Bill Belichick when the Super Bowl was in Miami. "He was like, 'You probably should go because if you expect to be in that game one day, you should understand like the magnitude of the game.'" That was the only time Barkley reconsidered his pledge. "I thought about like, 'Okay, maybe I should go,'" Barkley said. But he didn't.
It’s the same drive that propelled the Eagles to a championship. Barkley’s record-shattering 2,504 rushing yards were built on this very principle of delayed gratification. Eagles star RB didn’t just want to see the mountain. He was determined to climb it.
Now, the challenge is even steeper. The Eagles aren’t just contenders; they are the reigning kings. How does a player with this mentality handle success?
The Relentless Pursuit of More
Barkley’s hunger was instantly apparent following the Super Bowl LIX victory. He confessed, "Two nights ago, I had a hard time sleeping because I was thinking about how I'm going to attack the offseason." He also described the unique burden of winning.
"It kind of sucks when you think about it***, because you can’t allow yourself to get too caught up in it,"***Saquon added. Besides, the end of one journey is just the beginning of the next for a competitor.
This attitude is infectious within the Eagles' locker room. It transforms a championship team into a potential dynasty. Barkley himself asked after the game, "Why can't our dynasty start now?" This isn’t just talk. It’s a declaration of intent. They avoid the word "repeat," focusing only on the work required to win again.
The road back is littered with obstacles, including a fortified Green Bay Packers team now featuring Micah Parsons. But Barkley’s unique mindset is the Eagles’ greatest asset.
Read More:Jalen Hurts reflects on Tom Brady & Peyton Manning's influence, QB hardships.
The Eagles open the season against Dallas in Week 1. And as Barkley laces up for another run, one thing’s clear—he’s not watching the past. He’s running toward the future.