Look, the 2024 season was a wild ride for the Philadelphia Eagles. We saw a Super Bowl LIX win followed by a 2025 campaign that felt like trying to start a car in the middle of a Philly January—kinda sluggish and frustrating at times. If you've spent any time on Broad Street lately, you know the talk is all about the dip in rushing production. People are pointing fingers at the offensive line or the playcalling, and honestly, they aren't totally wrong. But to understand the Eagles running backs 2025 situation, you have to look past the box score and see how the room actually evolved.
The ground game plummeted from 179.3 yards per game in 2024 to 116.9 yards in 2025. That is a massive drop-off.
Saquon Barkley remained the undisputed bell cow, but the supporting cast changed in ways we didn't necessarily expect when the year started. Kenneth Gainwell, a guy who felt like a permanent fixture in this offense, packed his bags for Pittsburgh in March 2025. That left a hole. It also left a lot of us wondering if rookie Will Shipley or a newcomer would step up.
The Saquon Barkley Factor: Workhorse or Overworked?
Saquon is still Saquon. Even with a "down" year for the offense, he managed to grind out 1,140 rushing yards on 280 carries. That’s a lot of mileage for a 28-year-old back in today’s NFL.
He finished 10th in the league in rushing yards, which sounds great until you realize his yards-per-carry dipped to 4.1. In 2024, the Eagles were ripping off 4.9 yards per clip. This year? They were tied for 20th at 4.2.
It’s not just on Saquon, though.
📖 Related: Why Ohio State Football Uniform Details Drive Fans Crazy
The blocking took a hit. Grant Calcaterra, who handled a ton of the run-blocking snaps, struggled significantly, posting a PFF run-blocking grade in the high 40s. When your tight end can’t seal the edge, even a guy as explosive as Barkley is going to get swallowed up in the backfield. We saw it happen way too often in 2025.
Barkley still had his moments of magic, though. Remember that Week 12 game against the Rams where he went for 255 yards? That was the vintage Penn State version of him that makes you forget all the three-yard clouds of dust. But the consistency just wasn't there across the full 17 games.
The Rise of Tank Bigsby
If there was one bright spot in the Eagles running backs 2025 rotation, it was Tank Bigsby.
Philly brought him in to be the change-of-pace guy, and he actually looked more efficient than Saquon in small doses. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry on 58 attempts. That’s elite efficiency, even if the sample size is small.
- He forced missed tackles at a high rate.
- He looked decisive hitting the hole.
- He actually pushed for more touches late in the season.
By the time the Wild Card game against the 49ers rolled around, there was a real argument that Bigsby should have been getting 10-12 touches a game to keep Barkley fresh. Instead, the Eagles stuck to their guns with a Barkley-heavy approach.
What’s the Deal with Will Shipley?
A lot of fans expected Will Shipley to take over the Kenneth Gainwell "scatback" role.
It didn't really happen.
Shipley spent most of 2025 as a special teams ace, racking up over 240 snaps there. On offense, he was a ghost. 14 carries for 49 yards. That’s it. While he showed some flashes in the 2024 postseason (that 57-yard run against Washington was legendary), he couldn't quite find his footing in the 2025 regular season rotation.
Maybe it’s a chemistry thing with Jalen Hurts. Maybe it was the predictable playcalling from Kevin Patullo that eventually led to his demotion. Whatever it was, Shipley enters 2026 with a lot to prove. He’s under contract through 2027, so he isn't going anywhere, but his seat is getting warm.
The Carson Steele Experiment
Right after the playoff loss, the Eagles made a move that raised some eyebrows. They signed Carson Steele.
You might remember him as the "Fullback/RB" hybrid from Kansas City who owns a pet alligator. Steele spent most of 2025 on the Eagles' practice squad after a stint on the 53-man roster in 2024. Bringing him back now, specifically labeled as a "Running Back," puts immense pressure on Bigsby and Shipley.
The Eagles' offense lacked a certain "thump" in 2025. They were great in the red zone (70.5% conversion rate), but they struggled to move the chains on 3rd and short. Steele is a human bowling ball. If the Eagles decide to move back toward a more physical, downhill rushing attack in 2026, Steele could be the guy who vultures those short-yardage carries that usually go to Jalen Hurts or Saquon.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Eagles running backs 2025 story is one of transition. We saw the end of the Gainwell era and the beginning of a much more top-heavy, Barkley-centric approach that didn't always pay dividends.
The offensive line needs to get its "magic" back. Without the dominant push from the interior, it doesn't matter if you have Saquon Barkley or prime Barry Sanders; the yards just won't be there. With a new offensive coordinator coming in to replace Patullo, expect a massive shift in how these backs are used.
👉 See also: Pictures of the NBA Players: Why the Best Shots Aren't on Your Phone
Honestly, the Eagles have a choice to make. Do they continue to ride Barkley into the ground, or do they finally trust the depth? Tank Bigsby proved he belongs. Carson Steele provides a different look. Will Shipley is a versatile weapon that hasn't been sharpened yet.
If you're looking for actionable insights on where this backfield goes next, keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft. Even though the Eagles have "bigger" needs on defense, a mid-round pick on a true pass-catching back would signal that they aren't satisfied with the current production.
Next Steps for Eagles Fans:
- Watch the coaching search: The new OC will dictate whether Saquon remains a 300-touch player or if we see a more balanced committee.
- Monitor the offensive line depth: The drop in YPC wasn't just a "back" problem; it was a "trench" problem.
- Don't sleep on Tank Bigsby: He is the primary candidate to see a massive jump in usage if the Eagles want to preserve Barkley for another deep January run.
The 2025 season was a reality check. The talent is there, but the execution was stale. Fixing the run game is priority number one for 2026, and it starts with figuring out how to maximize the guys already in that room.