If you had told a New York Giants fan a few years ago that Saquon Barkley would be hoisting a trophy in an Eagles jersey, they’d probably have laughed you out of the room. Or maybe they would have cried. But here we are. In February 2025, at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, the world watched as Saquon Barkley was officially named the Offensive Player of the Year 2024.
It wasn't even particularly close.
Barkley didn't just win; he dominated the voting. He scooped up 35 first-place votes, ending with a massive 406 points. For context, the runner-up, Lamar Jackson, finished with 183. That’s a gap you could drive a Mack truck through. Honestly, after what we saw on the field during the 2024 regular season, the result felt like a foregone conclusion. People love a comeback story, but this was more like a "remind everyone who I am" story.
Why Saquon Barkley as Offensive Player of the Year 2024 Just Made Sense
The numbers are honestly kind of stupid when you look at them all at once. Barkley became just the ninth player in the history of the NFL to cross the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a single season. He finished with 2,005 yards on the ground. He could have had more, too. He actually sat out Week 18, finishing just 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season record.
Think about that for a second. He was that close to the mountaintop and decided the post-season was more important.
But it wasn't just the rushing. As the Offensive Player of the Year 2024, Barkley led the entire league in yards from scrimmage with 2,283. He accounted for 34.8% of the Philadelphia Eagles' total offensive output. Basically, he was the engine, the wheels, and the driver of that unit.
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The "Reverse Hurdle" and the Eye Test
Statistics are great for spreadsheets, but the AP voters are humans who watch the games. And you can't talk about the 2024 season without talking about the play. You know the one. Against the Jaguars, Barkley didn't just hurdle a defender—he did a reverse hurdle. It was the kind of thing you see in a video game and complain that the physics are unrealistic.
That play alone probably secured a few dozen votes. It encapsulated everything he brought to the table:
- Pure, raw athleticism that shouldn't belong to a human that size.
- The vision to see a defender coming from a blind spot.
- The "wow" factor that separates a good player from an award winner.
He also led the league in explosive runs, tallying 46 carries of 10 or more yards. Behind that elite Eagles offensive line, he was gaining an average of 829 yards before contact. When you give a guy with Barkley's talent that much room to breathe, defenses are basically just spectators.
Who Else Was in the Running?
It’s easy to forget because Saquon's shadow was so big, but there were some other incredible performances this year. The voting breakdown shows a league that is still incredibly deep with talent, even if Barkley made them look like they were standing still.
Lamar Jackson (Ravens) took second place. He was his usual, electrifying self, becoming the first player to ever throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 800 in the same season. In almost any other year, that's a lock for OPOY. But the voters clearly valued the historical significance of Barkley's 2,000-yard rushing campaign.
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Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals) came in third with 171 points. He was a monster in the receiving game, especially with Joe Burrow back at full strength. Speaking of Burrow, he snagged fifth place in the voting, while the "King" himself, Derrick Henry, landed in fourth after his own impressive debut season in Baltimore.
It’s interesting to note that Josh Allen actually won the MVP, but didn't even crack the top three for Offensive Player of the Year. This happens a lot. The MVP has become a "Best Quarterback on a Top Seed" award, while OPOY is where the voters let loose and reward the most spectacular individual season regardless of position.
The Transformation: From New York to Philly
There was a lot of talk about whether Barkley was "washed" during his final years in New York. Injuries had taken a toll, and the offensive line play he was dealing with was... well, let's just say it wasn't great.
Moving to Philly changed the geometry of his career. He went from being the only threat on a struggling offense to being the primary weapon on a juggernaut.
Teammates like A.J. Brown have been vocal about it. Brown called him the "best football player in the world" earlier this season. It's not just hype. When you look at the Next Gen Stats, Barkley generated +549 rushing yards over expected. That's the highest number ever recorded since they started tracking the stat in 2018. He wasn't just taking what was blocked; he was creating value out of thin air.
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Key Stats for the 2024 Season:
- Rushing Yards: 2,005 (1st in NFL)
- Scrimmage Yards: 2,283 (1st in NFL)
- Yards Per Attempt: 5.8
- Touchdowns: 15 total (13 rushing, 2 receiving)
- Runs of 40+ Yards: 7 (League high)
What This Means for the Future of the Award
Winning the Offensive Player of the Year 2024 puts Barkley in very exclusive company. He joins legends like Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, and Terrell Davis as one of the few running backs to hit that 2,000-yard mark and take home the hardware.
It also serves as a bit of a reality check for how we value the running back position. For years, we've heard that "running backs don't matter" or that they are easily replaceable. Saquon's 2024 season was a loud, 2,000-yard rebuttal to that entire philosophy.
If you're looking to apply the lessons from Barkley's season—whether for your fantasy draft next year or just to understand the game better—look at the "Yards Before Contact" metric. It’s the marriage of a great offensive line and a generational talent that creates an OPOY winner.
Actionable Insights for NFL Fans:
- Watch the Trench: Barkley's success was heavily tied to the Eagles' offensive line. When evaluating future OPOY candidates, look at the "run block win rate" of their teams.
- Usage Rates Matter: Barkley accounted for over 30% of his team's yards. Any player hitting that threshold is a prime candidate for end-of-year honors.
- Efficiency vs. Volume: Barkley didn't just get the ball a lot; he averaged 5.8 yards per carry. High volume is common, but that level of efficiency at high volume is what wins awards.
Saquon Barkley didn't just have a good year; he had a season that will be talked about in Philadelphia for decades. From the reverse hurdles to the 2,000-yard milestone, he was the clear and deserving choice for the best offensive player in football.