If you’ve watched Saquon Barkley tear up the field lately, you know he’s playing with a different kind of juice. It isn't just about the contracts or the highlight reels. It's about the two little faces waiting for him in the tunnel after the whistle blows. Honestly, for as much as he’s known for those logic-defying hurdles, his role as a dad is what actually keeps him grounded.
He isn't just a running back. He's a father.
Saquon Barkley kids, Jada Clare and Saquon Jr., are basically the reason he does what he does. Most fans see the stats. They see the explosive 2024 season and the Super Bowl ring he secured with the Philadelphia Eagles in early 2025. But if you look closer at the sidelines during those big games, you’ll see a six-year-old girl and a toddler who couldn't care less about his yards per carry—they just want their dad.
Jada Clare: The Draft Week Miracle
Life changed for Saquon on April 24, 2018. That’s the day Jada Clare Barkley was born.
The timing was wild.
Literally two days later, Saquon was sitting in the green room waiting to be the number two overall pick by the New York Giants. Imagine that for a second. You become a father and a multi-millionaire face of a franchise in the span of 48 hours. It’s the kind of week that would make anyone’s head spin, but Saquon has always said Jada gave him an immediate sense of purpose. He wasn't just playing for himself anymore. He was playing for her.
Jada has basically grown up in NFL stadiums. From being carried in a front pack at Giants games as a baby to rocking a denim jumpsuit on her dad’s lap during post-game interviews after Super Bowl LIX, she’s a pro at this.
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She’s also the source of that viral pre-game ritual everyone talks about.
Before every game, Saquon and Jada have this elaborate secret handshake. It’s got a rhythm to it—kisses on each cheek, a peace sign, the whole deal. It’s their thing. During the 2025 NFC Championship game, the cameras caught them doing it, and Jada capped it off by telling him, "Love you, Daddy!"
That stuff isn't for the cameras. It’s just how they are.
Saquon Jr. and the Shift in Perspective
In September 2022, the family grew again. Enter Saquon Jr., or "S.J." as they call him.
If Jada is the calm, veteran sideline presence, S.J. is the new energy. Saquon has described his son as a kid who "lights up the room" with a massive smile. But having a son also brought out a funny, very human side of Saquon’s parenting.
He actually admitted to falling into the classic "dad stereotype."
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Basically, he’s a total softie with Jada. If she falls down, he’s right there to coddle her and make sure she’s okay. But with S.J.? He’s a bit more "old school." He’s told reporters with a laugh that when his son trips, he’s more likely to say, "Get up, you’re fine." He’s joked about needing to find a better balance there, but it’s that kind of honesty that makes him so relatable to other parents.
He’s figuring it out just like the rest of us.
S.J. is a bit less in the public eye than Jada was at his age, mostly because Saquon and his fiancée, Anna Congdon, are careful about what they share. But when the Eagles won it all in New Orleans in 2025, S.J. was right there in the confetti, looking a little overwhelmed but definitely part of the celebration.
Why the Barkley Family Dynamic Actually Matters for His Game
You might wonder why we’re talking about handshakes and toddlers when Saquon is busy being one of the best athletes on the planet.
It’s because of the "why."
Saquon has been very open about the fact that every business deal, every investment, and every snap on the field is filtered through the lens of his kids’ future. He even went back to Penn State to finish his degree in May 2022. Why? To set an example. He wanted Jada and S.J. to see that you finish what you start, even if you’re already famous.
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The Anna Congdon Connection
You can't talk about Saquon Barkley kids without talking about Anna. They’ve been together since their days at Penn State back in 2017.
She’s been the backbone through the ACL injuries, the trade rumors, and the move from North Jersey to Philly. They finally got engaged around August 2024, though they kept it quiet for about six months before letting the world in on the secret right around the Super Bowl.
Saquon credits her for everything. He’s said point-blank that he wouldn't be the athlete he is without her handling the chaos of home life.
What’s Next for the Barkley Crew?
As we move through 2026, the Barkley family is in a pretty sweet spot. Saquon is a Super Bowl champion, a degree holder, and a father of two kids who are starting to really understand what their dad does for a living.
If you want to keep up with them, keep an eye on these things:
- The Documentary: If you haven't seen it yet, the Prime Video documentary SAQUON (released late 2025) gives a much deeper look at his home life than any Instagram post ever could.
- The Handshakes: Watch the sidelines before kickoff. The rituals with Jada and S.J. usually change slightly every season.
- Charity Work: Saquon has been involving his kids more in his community efforts, like his recent work promoting blood donation, teaching them early about giving back.
At the end of the day, Saquon Barkley is a guy who wants his kids to be "goal setters." He’s proving that you can be a fierce competitor on Sunday and a "favorite" (Jada’s words, not ours) on Monday.
To really understand the man, you have to look past the jersey. The real story is in the quiet moments—the voicemails Jada leaves him before big games and the way he looks at S.J. when the stadium lights finally go down.
For anyone following his career, the next logical move is to watch how he balances this "dad-first" mentality with his remaining years in the league. You might want to follow Anna Congdon on social media for the occasional family update, but more importantly, keep an eye on the Eagles’ sideline rituals. That’s where the real Barkley legacy is being built, one handshake at a time.