Saquon (2025) Movie Script

1
[man 1] Year five, year six,
they look at you differently. Right?
You really only have one opportunity
to get to the bag
when you're a running back.
They don't wanna go out there
and pay Saquon 15, 20 million dollars.
I don't think it's gonna get done.
And I do know one team
that's ready to trade for Saquon Barkley,
but Mr. Mara doesn't want to give him up.
That's not good business.
If you don't wanna pay him,
let somebody else pay him.
When OBJ left, they didn't miss a beat
because Saquon was that guy
in the locker room.
And then also,
he doesn't get into any trouble,
he shows up to all the charity events,
he's a great Samaritan.
Take care of your people.
I've done nothing but represent
this organization the right way.
Like, it don't gotta be--
it don't gotta be like this.
It could be simple.
I can't go nowhere.
And you know why I can't go nowhere?
Wonder why I can't go-- You know, like...
I can't go nowhere
because I do it the right way.
[sighs] It is July 27th, 2025.
It's been a five-year journey.
A long journey.
I've been using this camera as my diary,
as my therapy.
It's March... 13th.
-August 1st.
-It's March 4th, right now.
July 17th.
-[doctor] Little pressure...
-[moans]
He tore the ACL on the inside...
[pained exhale] That shit hurt.
What does this movie mean to me?
You, actually, can see yourself,
like, the growth,
and see the difference
of who I was five years ago,
um, to the person I am now.
I think it's, probably,
one of the coolest things
that I've ever been a part of.
[commentator] That was
a joystick run there.
[Saquon] If God's gonna create someone
to play the running back position,
I actually feel like that's me.
Huger than my huge legs
that never stopped getting huger.
How can he be that fast
with his thighs the size of torsos?
I mean, what the fuck is that, dude?
This just makes me wanna do some shit
that, like, that's not in my character.
They keep telling me I'm
the best running back in the NFL.
So, pay me like I'm
the best running back in the NFL.
I think you should be on the...
-[giggles] ...the Eagles.
-Oh.
Would you allow me permission
to seek for a trade?
[John Mara] No, Saquon, I'm not gonna
do that. That makes no sense.
They say, don't take business personal,
but it is personal.
I'm just ready to shut
everyone the fuck up, to be honest.
Everybody wants to be wanted.
Whether you're a six-year-old kid...
We're going to the playoffs.
-I wanna come.
-Of course.
...or whether you're
a 27-year-old NFL star.
-How does it look?
-It looks good.
It looks like you're a girl
and you're getting ready for a wedding.
Ready, gents? Let's do it.
You're a class act on and off the field.
Thanks so much.
[Micah Parsons] The fan base
loves Saquon Barkley.
[man 2] He's someone
who's very conscious of his image.
[man 3] You never hear
anything bad about him.
[Tiki] He's doing his best to allow
his character to appeal to the empathy
of people who don't do business that way.
Is he a superhero or a villain?
A villain.
-He's a villain?
-Yeah.
[Tiki] You're dead to us, Saquon.
I know what I bring to the table.
Saquon always gotta do the right thing,
but everyone gets to fuck me over
and everyone gets to do
whatever they want to me
and I can never do what I wanna do.
Play and win championships.
That's all I wanna do.
Always keep your head up
and keep fighting.
You gotta stay in the fight.
No matter how many times
you get knocked down,
stand back up.
It's not who you are
when you get knocked down,
it's who you are when you stand back up.
I love having this side of it, like...
I'm expressing myself
because this is like my diary.
This is like the moment in time where
I can come out here and be authentic.
Tell people how I really feel.
I'm talking real spiel.
To see the journey it took
to get to this point.
Let's go show the world
I'm Saquon Barkley.
[music ends]
[Saquon] It's, like, my sanctuary.
That's the beauty of football to me.
Like, I-- anything
that I'm dealing with outside, like,
anything,
it doesn't even cross your mind.
Like, you're just lost in the game.
You're just lost in practice.
You're just lost.
Like, you just let go.
You just flow and be you,
and do something that you love.
Like, it's always been like that for me.
I feel like that's the place
where I always can go to.
So it's like, I know what's going on
in my everyday life,
but, like, when I get on that field, like,
I get to put on a frickin' cape.
Try to be, you know,
try to be a superhero.
Try to be, be me.
Try to be special.
I... I think there's beauty in that.
[fan 1] Saquon.
[fan 2] Saquon! I love you.
[fan 3] Hi. Good luck. [chuckles]
[woman 1] Proud father, you know...
[Tonya] Do you got anything to say
about your son?
Yeah, yeah.
[Alibay] I've known since he was
a little kid, I've known, like...
He was different.
I'm not a sports person.
I'll make sure
your clothes is clean,
the house is clean, I cook food for you.
You know what I mean?
I was that type of mother.
I catered to all their other needs.
He came to me and he's like,
"You have to come to the games.
You have to see this kid."
[shouting and cheering]
He scored, like,
29 touchdowns in, like, eight games.
So, just think about it.
[Saquon] I wore #20 and
I got the nickname Little Barry Sanders.
He was skinny, you know,
on the weaker side.
Lacked confidence.
But we all saw that he has strength.
[Saquon] I wasn't committed.
I wasn't lifting the way I should've.
I wasn't training the way I should've.
The mindset of me wanting to quit
was just selfish and immature.
I just had a conversation, telling him
that I don't think that's a good idea.
If you start something,
you should want to finish it.
My father said to me, he told me,
once you quit one thing in life,
you're gonna be a quitter
for the rest of your life.
That mindset
that was instilled in me at that age
and helping me realize that, you know,
life ain't always gonna be easy.
And when it's not easy,
you can't just give up and quit.
[commentator] And this is 21,
Saquon Barkley.
Has running room.
He's into the second tier to the 20.
Barkley to the five. Touchdown!
For me, that was
an important time in my life
because my grades weren't so good.
I wasn't taking school serious.
I had a 1.9 GPA.
So, like, when I got an offer,
it was like, oh, crap, all right.
Like, I can do something with this.
I can get to the next level.
I can get a free education out of this.
[commentator] Wow, Saquon Barkley,
with the best run of the season.
How did I justify going to Penn State?
I went to the Penn State, uh, Michigan
White Out game.
I had to make a decision.
Looking back on it, it's probably one
of the best decisions of my life.
We do this drill, we call it "Lion's Den."
It's kind of a toughness drill.
He made all three miss
and, like, the entire team just exploded.
That's something you don't see.
[Saquon] My first time
I realized that, okay,
I, probably, will be in the NFL,
um, was my freshman year,
after playing Ohio state.
Kinda was like my coming out party.
They were the number one team
in the country.
They had Joey Bosa and all these guys.
I felt like I was the best player.
[analyst 1] If you didn't know
Saquon Barkley before tonight,
you'd better get to know him.
You better know him.
The eyes, the vision, and the power
and acceleration on display yet again.
[James] He was just doing things
that you don't see very often.
In my 26 years,
I've never seen anyone like him.
[commentator] Barkley hurdles a man
and makes a first down.
What did you say before? Superman?
[chuckles]
[Pat Leonard] What Saquon had
as a prospect coming out of college
was it was hard to pinpoint
a weakness in his game.
[commentator] Saquon Barkley in the clear.
Still going.
[Pat Leonard] He had
a home run hitting ability
in one of the top conferences
in the country
that showed up in big moments.
He did look like he could
change a team instantly.
He's a freak.
I mean, there is almost nobody like him.
[shouts of encouragement]
Given the durability,
given the shelf life of a running back,
do you take them with the number one,
number two overall pick? I don't know.
-It is not a knock on Saquon at all.
-No.
-It is his position. He's perfect.
-Yes.
But I've said this before,
that high, they better be Adrian Peterson.
[Saquon] I'm not nervous.
If a team pass me, can I call them
and be like, listen,
I promise you if you pass on me,
you're gonna feel me for ten years.
-[woman 2] It's the Giants.
-Hello?
Hey, how you doing?
I promise you guys
I won't let you guys down.
[announcer] With the second pick
in the 2018 NFL Draft,
the New York Giants select Saquon Barkley.
[cheering and shouting]
When you get drafted that high,
you have to be Adrian Peterson level,
or Barry Sanders level.
I mean, that's why I play the game.
That's why I train so hard.
I wanna be the best running back
to ever play football.
[fast-paced music playing]
[commentator] Hand-off Saquon,
makes the first man miss, second man miss.
[analyst 2]
Boy, that's shades of Barry Sanders there,
making him miss
at point blank range.
If he's modeled his game after me,
then he's been paying attention.
He's a good student.
You can talk about his speed
and you can talk about his vision,
his quickness
and his ability to make a miss.
And he's just
one of those dynamic players.
I hear you go, like, he-he-he.
You go he-he-he.
Go he-he-he.
My rookie year,
I had 2,000 all-purpose yards.
[commentator] He refused to go down.
[Saquon] And 15 touchdowns.
[commentator] Wow,
Barkley jumped over a man.
This rookie can do everything.
The sky's the limit for you, man.
You know, the sky's the limit.
-I really love your talent, man.
-Appreciate that.
It's remarkable to see.
I was able to be
Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Should've been All-Pro,
but that's coming off your team's success.
We only had five wins.
[pulsing music playing]
[Saquon] What is it like
being on a losing team?
It sucks. It drains you.
I remember we played Pittsburgh Steelers.
I had, like, nine carries
for 12 yards, or some bullshit.
I had, like, two pass pickups
that I wasn't really happy about.
And a lot of people talking a lot shit.
Tiki being one.
[Tiki] Saquon Barkley,
he might not be in every damn bag.
He cannot pass protect.
Saquon Barkley's a big man.
He doesn't wanna hit anybody.
He does a lot of dancing,
a lot of negative yards.
He's a big back who wants to play small.
After that game and that week of practice,
I was in a place
where I was not playing the game
for the love of it.
I was gonna force a great performance
the next week.
I even thought about
buying a Tiki Barber jersey.
You know, wearing a Tiki Barber jersey
after I go for 200 yards.
All those idiotic and immature things
was running through my head at the time.
I was ready
to have the best game of my life.
You know, we had a power play.
I was able to break the tackle
and I was stumbling
and Eddie Jackson come up
and I'm thinking I might let him go by
and then take off.
I took one step...
[commentator] And Barkley is down.
[tense music]
[Saquon] I just knew
what happened already.
I remember when they took me
to the back, like,
I don't know if it was because of pain,
like, I was just crying.
I just wanted to throw up,
and I had to sit in the shower and, like,
just let hot water just run down me
for a good 20 minutes.
And I just barely couldn't move
and just butt-ass naked,
just crying in the shower.
Um, 'cause I'm realizing
what's actually happened to me.
I didn't blow up his phone.
I wasn't freaking out,
calling everybody. I was...
really, just laid-back.
And I just remember sending him a text.
And I was like...
[sighs]
I basically said, "Don't worry.
We're gonna take care of you."
He gets home, and Jada... [exhales]
And Jada sees him with the brace
on his leg and everything.
And, um, she said, "Daddy!"
"You need a Band-Aid." [sniffs]
And I remember just thinking,
like, "Jada, I wish it was that simple."
He injured all of the ligaments
on the medial side of his knee.
He tore the ACL on the inside
because of the rotation.
He severed the entire width
of the meniscus,
all the way through the rim.
He was basically invincible.
-[Saquon] Can you wave?
-[Anna chuckles]
[Anna] One of his friends
would call him Hercules,
Superquon, all these nicknames
that, like, make him seem
like he's this untouchable human.
[nurse] I'm gonna get you situated
and then I'm gonna walk this up to Tanya.
[Saquon] Thank you, guys.
It made him realize,
you know what, I'm human.
[doctor] Everything went really well.
He's got a really nice new ACL graft.
Took that from the front of his knee.
Couldn't have asked for this
to turn out any better.
He is strong
and doesn't wanna be seen as weak.
He's, like, "I'm not letting anybody
see me leave in a wheelchair."
You're getting into that wheelchair.
Huh? That's how they got
to get you out of here.
Tell them I don't want to.
-But you're gonna have to.
-I don't want to.
Get up for me, right here.
No weight. No weight.
[nurse] Those are actually pretty good.
Can I pop a wheelie?
[male nurse] There you go.
Hang on to the door there.
Perfect, perfect.
You're gonna turn towards us...
[female nurse] Here. Just turn and sit.
Yeah. There you go.
[Saquon] The crazy thing, I remember
talking to my dad, going into the season.
I'm just like, I really...
Like, God never really tested me.
Like, what was going to be His challenge?
Like, 'cause I've always, like,
my life, like,
no one's life is perfect,
but I've always had a clean--
Especially with football,
outside, like, I never really had any,
like, challenges.
[somber music playing]
[Anna] It took a piece out of him.
It broke him down a little bit.
You can't get up and get a snack
if you want to just go get a snack.
You can't drive yourself to get treatment.
You really are relying on the people
around you for absolutely everything.
Did you allow yourself to be upset? Angry?
I gave myself two days.
[Saquon] Sundays are, like,
the worst days for me.
I'm, like,
the Giant's biggest fan right now.
That's the only thing I can do.
[commentator] Jones
is gonna be sacked again.
It's over.
Friday will be week ten,
so it'll be ten weeks after surgery.
When I close my eyes, I can't really
visualize me running the ball.
That just goes to show you how much
I'm separated from the game.
He ain't used to
being in one spot.
And that took a lot out of him.
[Saquon] The training is so redundant.
When can I start, like...
doing stuff like that...
So, I don't want you to squat beyond,
about, 45 degrees.
I just want you to remember one thing,
with Odell and with AP,
they didn't have
the same kind of injury you did.
Okay? You had, you had a lot more.
When the time is right,
feel free to compare yourself to anybody
'cause you're gonna be better
than everybody.
But, um, right now,
I just wanna make sure
that we're on the same page
with what we need to protect
-as we're going through the therapy.
-Yeah.
Right now, it's May 26th.
I'm approaching seven months off surgery.
Having the confidence in making a cut
in your knee is all cool,
but it's different when it's reacting.
You know what I mean?
So, when there's 11 men
on the other side of the ball,
I'm hoping that, with the ball in my hand
in those practice
that we have coming up in camp,
that, you know, I'm, it's gonna take over
and I'm gonna go back to doing what
I love doing since I was a little kid.
I'm still on pace to do everything
I wanted to accomplish, so...
Just, I thought
it was gonna take me, like,
ten or 11 years to do what I wanna do.
It might take me 12, 13 now.
But, it's whatever.
If I could just walk away when
I wanna walk away, that's the goal.
And a ring. Or three.
Today is September 12th.
We play week one.
Eight days away from being a year
to the day, exactly, when I tore my ACL.
And it's the first time
that I'll be able to play football again,
uh, since September 20th.
-Can you see it?
-[cameraman] Yeah.
There's a reason why
that's the background on my phone.
That was a low point in my life
and, you know,
it's showing me
getting carried off the field.
You know,
I've always had the mentality that, like,
you know, try to be Superman.
Get the job done. Get the job done.
Um, but that kinda
made me realize
that the things
you wanna accomplish in life,
you can't do it by yourself,
it takes a family.
Daddy gotta go.
Can you give Daddy kissy?
Eat it all!
-Can Daddy get a hug goodbye?
-Sure. Have fun.
Come and kiss me. I love you.
Only thing I could think of
is people having my back
and helping me and pushing me
to get back to where I am.
And to where I wanna be
and week one is the first time I get to
actually put that on display.
[commentator] It's Saquon Barkley
on the field to start this 2021 season.
And first down, Saquon Barkley.
To about the 45.
[analyst 3] Well, there's a test
on that cut.
He makes it, bam,
he sees the problem right here,
gets his eyes around,
puts his foot in the ground,
great cut, and then guess what?
The turf monster got him.
But that's called football shade.
You know? You gotta get used to that.
You gotta feel that.
[commentator] And the final score,
the Broncos dominate the Giants 27 to 13.
-Hey.
-It's good.
-So, how you feel?
-Good.
So proud of you.
You worked so hard to get back here.
[Sterling Shepard]
We're gonna be straight, bro.
For real, yeah, we're gonna be good.
Yeah, no, I ain't worried about it.
Hey, you gonna get going and shit.
That was good for you
to get your feet wet.
Shake your head. Know what I mean?
It's kinda weird, like,
I feel like they was hitting me,
but, like, not trying to hurt me.
-You know what I mean?
-[James] They was, like,
-timid, like, unsure?
-Like,
like, when they was, like--
I got hit so many times,
like, "You good? You good?"
-Like...
-[James laughs] Like,
-like you playing handicapped.
-I swear.
I was like...
Week one loss. Like...
I don't know.
I feel like I ain't doing shit
to help the team.
Last couple games I played in,
it was, like...
[groans]
[commentator] From AT&T Stadium
in Arlington, Texas,
the New York Giants renew their rivalry
with the Dallas Cowboys.
Barkley split left.
Jones back, looks left,
throws the slant over the head of Barkley.
Incomplete.
[analyst 4] Oh, no. Barkley's down.
And will limp away.
[tense music playing]
Here's another look at what happened.
Oh, he stepped on the left foot
of Jourdan Lewis. Wow.
Saquon Barkley's left ankle
being attended to
on the Giant bench.
And, uh, that was
an ugly twist of the ankle.
[Saquon]
My immediate reaction was just...
fuck.
To be honest, it was just, like...
I don't know, exhausting.
And just, like, what the hell?
You know, you keep telling yourself,
damn, not again, not again.
Out of all the injuries I ever had,
this is, probably, the most fluky one
that's ever happened to me.
It's literally just, you know,
bad luck.
I don't know.
It's like I can't catch a break.
I'm just fed up with just...
my life.
Meaning, football life.
[somber music playing]
[Kyle] This injury situation
is just an absolute disaster.
[Jamie] The idea that Saquon Barkley
is injury-prone--
[Kyle] Is he injury-prone? Yes.
[Pat] He's missed 17 games in two years.
[Kyle] And if you're not available,
then, you know,
you're ability doesn't matter.
The outside noise kinda come in.
The "why me" mentality sinks in a lot.
-[static noise]
-[tense music playing]
[Saquon] Am I injury-prone?
[Pat] ...who's supposed to be
the next great tailback?
How about he stay healthy?
You do lose a little confidence.
[analyst 5] Would I bet on him
being best running back of all time?
Probably not.
Even though, you know, I claim
to be an immensely strong person,
negativity is gonna creep in.
And that's the battle.
[groans]
-[groans]
-Right there?
[groans]
-Oh, turn it down. No, no.
-[therapist] Breathe.
-Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
-Oh, fucking God, that shit hurts.
[groans]
That shit just hurt, boy.
So the doubt comes in your head,
like, damn. You know what I mean?
Am I injury-prone?
That's the stuff you start saying
to yourself, you know.
You hear everyone saying that,
and you start saying stuff like,
damn, am I injury-prone?
Especially, when you see yourself
get injured off a fucking--
[huffs] You taking your eyes off
and just step on someone's foot.
[commentator]
Giants fall to four and 13.
The rebuild begins.
[Tiki] Saquon Barkley,
his name has come up in trade rumors.
The Giants need to trade Saquon.
I wonder if you did trade him,
what could you even get for him
-at this point?
-[Evan] I'm not hearing very much.
Whoa, this is the bomb.
[excited exclamations]
Touched a stingray, you know.
You see how long that tail is?
I like shit like that.
[excited exclamations]
[cheering]
[Brian Baldinger]
Who wants Saquon Barkley?
Would I give up a fourth-round pick
for Saquon Barkley?
[Tiki] His value,
I don't know that it's ever been lower.
[Brian] The third-round pick?
I don't know.
Uh... [sighs] It's March.
Coming off my ankle injury and, obviously,
rehabbing my knee the year before,
do I feel nervous about a trade? Yes.
I'm like, I have a whole family.
-Hi, Daddy.
-[Saquon] Hey, Jada.
Come here. Stay there. No, stay there.
-Say "hi."
-Hi.
-[Saquon] Say "hi, world."
-Hi.
Say "hey, everybody,
welcome to Daddy's doc."
Um...
Knowing him before he was a dad versus now
is like night and day.
I think that having a daughter
really softens you.
And changes who you are.
-How does it look?
-It looks good.
It looks like you're a girl
and you're getting ready for a wedding.
-Really?
-Yeah.
Where's your unicorn?
When he's alone with her,
it's so cool to see.
He'll text me and be like,
oh, we're gonna go to the park today.
We're gonna go swimming. Like...
Even when I get home from work
and see what she was wearing that day,
it's so cool to see how he acts
when he's just with her.
Because it's something completely special.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
Blah-blah-blah-blah.
-Saw that?
-Yeah.
-Watch this.
-How do you like that one? [laughs]
-Wow.
-[Saquon] My little girl.
Jada Clare Barkley is...
[tender music playing]
...obviously, I'm biased, but I think,
the most special person in this world.
Just the presence that she has...
she walks into the room,
you're gonna know she's there.
-No, Daddy. That's the hot water.
-That's the hot water?
-Hot water goes in here first.
-Okay.
-And then the milk goes in.
-Okay.
Now, it's all done.
And I know, like, my daughter's watching.
-Good night, Dad.
-Good night kiss. I love you.
-I'll miss you, Daddy.
-I'll miss you too.
She, you know, just motivates me.
[background chatter]
[giggles] You see that?
So, I have another blessing in my life.
A new baby boy.
We had, obviously, a couple ideas
of names we want it to be,
but when I just looked at him,
in the face,
I wanted to name him Saquon Junior.
Now, you know,
when you name your son after you,
that put a little more pressure on you.
[beatbox sounds]
[Anna] You're getting sleepy, right?
You're getting sleepy.
I see your sleepy eyes.
Got a beautiful family.
Got a beautiful home.
Uh, you got a routine.
It would be better for me
to stay in New York.
To win in New York,
the place where I was born.
["Back on my BS" by BigXthaPlug plays]
It feels fucking great, I'm not gonna lie.
-[James] Feels great?
-Yeah, it feels good.
[music continues]
[strains] No. Bang. Silly boy.
Gone four, still all there.
Too easy. It's too easy.
[James] Who got that?
-Who you think?
Why you even questioning it?
[reporter 1] It's been ten questions
and nobody's asked you about the ACL.
I mean, do you sit there
and ever look at yourself and say,
am I ever gonna be the guy
who lit up the league as a rookie?
Um, I can't focus on that.
The last couple of years, a lot of things
have been out of my control,
um, speaking injuries.
Uh, just some freak accidents.
Um, but I know the work that I put in
and how hard I train
and, you know, how I challenge my body
and challenge my mind.
Uh, so, I know what I'm capable of doing.
For me, I'm gonna get back to my style
and get into how I play
and how I love to play the game.
That's the only thing I ask is, God,
just bless me and keep me healthy.
And, like, I'mma do the rest.
Week one's always unique
because you really don't know
what you're gonna get from a team.
I do feel like I can put together
a couple of good games.
Especially, at the beginning of the season
because, you know, "I'm not supposed to be
the same player I was before."
[commentator] And on first down,
Saquon Barkley to the sideline.
Barkley tiptoeing down the sideline.
And here comes the speed.
Hand-off, Saquon.
Dances left, into the end zone.
Touchdown, Giants!
Jones takes the snap.
Rolls right, shovel pass to Barkley.
Barkley in for the two-point conversion!
[Saquon] All the hard work that I put in,
in my knee,
now all makes sense, like,
my right knee feels so good.
Um, I can just trust it and go out there
and be Saquon.
[commentator] And the Giants have won!
Come to Nashville
and beat the Titans 21 to 20.
[Saquon] 2022 is the fifth and final year
of my contract.
Will I be a Giant next year? Um...
I don't know. To be honest. I...
It's football. It's a business.
I would love to be a Giant
for the rest of my life.
And everybody's like,
"When a running back's 28, 29, 30,
they're pretty much dead."
So, for me, I wanna play somewhere,
you know, that see me as a future.
Sees me being there
and helping the team win a Super Bowl.
[commentator] Wildcat formation
with Barkley. Saquon take the snap.
Saquon bounces outside.
Barkley's in for the touchdown!
That is it.
The New York Giants have come to London
and rang the bell
of the Green Bay Packers.
I keep doing this and contract talks
gotta come soon. Come soon.
'Cause, at the end of the day,
if we wait till the end of the season,
I might as well
just go to free agency.
-[cameraman] And?
-And then, bet against everybody.
Yes, that's how the game pushes you
to be a person that you're not.
They say don't take business personal,
but it is personal.
It... it is.
No one thought we were gonna be
worth a damn this year.
You know, we're a competitive team.
I felt like
I was a real big factor in that.
[commentator]
Saquon Barkley on a 36-yard run.
And the Giants have the lead.
I don't think there's a better
running back in the NFL right now.
So, I should be paid as the highest
running back in the NFL.
[tense music playing]
[commentator] Barkley's eighth
rushing touchdown of the season
from 13 yards out.
They keep telling me
I'm the best running back in the NFL.
So pay me like
I'm the best running back in the NFL.
And I want a long-term deal.
And a deal that shows
that you see me as part of the future
of winning a championship.
If not, if you do not see me in that,
trade me.
You kinda get...
caught up in it,
I guess you could say.
Um, it consumes you.
I just wanna get paid
what I think I should be paid.
[commentator] Saquon Barkley,
a career-high 35 carries.
[Saquon] They asked me some stuff
about the contract.
We didn't get nothing done.
It's not even the fact
that we didn't get nothing done,
it wasn't even... It was a joke.
It was really a spit in my face.
And then, come out here
and give me the ball 35 times...
Like, they really don't,
they really don't appreciate me.
To be completely honest.
They're literally just
trying to run me into the dirt.
Get what they can get,
then, hopefully, something bad happens
so fucking,
he can go somewhere else.
I feel like it was just like, all right,
a check-off, something that we did.
We can say we had a conversation
with Saquon about it,
and that's really all it was.
I wasn't heated,
but I was just kinda talking out my ass.
I was like, tell them that, like,
if they don't plan on making me
the highest-paid running back,
trade me by deadline.
And then, I talked to her
the other day and she was like,
I mean, if you really wanna do it,
we can go with this,
put pressure on them. I was like,
okay, like, let's chill out.
-[Anna] Pump the brakes.
-Let's pump the brakes here.
[Jada] Daddy. Daddy.
-Let's sing a song.
-Okay.
What's the song you and Mommy like?
There's alive
And then there's living...
[Jada] It's called "Cloudy Day."
["Cloudy Day" by Tones and I
playing on phone]
Am I living?
Oh, what a funny thing to say
-Sing with us, Mother.
-[Anna] Sure.
But there's alive
And then there's living
Am I living for today?
Ooh
And I'm getting older
With every memory I make
[commentator] The Giants will make it
to the post season as the sixth seed.
Now that I'm older with these moments
Will I live with them
or just throw them away?
-[Jada] Did we win?
-We won.
-We're going to the playoffs.
-I told you, Daddy.
We're going to the playoffs...
[commentator]
Nobody, and I mean, nobody
thought this Giant team
could do that this year.
-[Saquon and Jada singing along]
-But your momma always said
Look up into the sky
Find the sun on a cloudy day
On a cloudy day
But your momma always said
Look up into the sky
Find the sun on a cloudy day
[commentator] From USA Bank Stadium
in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
the New York Football Giants take on
the Minnesota Vikings in Wildcard Weekend.
It's on our shoulders.
It's on our shoulders.
[Mike] Barkley,
all kinds of charged up for this game.
His first playoff game.
[commentator] Toss left for Barkley.
Gets a block.
Barkley to the 25.
Barkley, on the left sideline
to the ten, to the five,
touchdown, Giants.
Saquon Barkley on a 28-yard burst.
Now that I'm older with these moments
Will I live with them
Or just throw them away?
Away
[commentator] And Saquon Barkley,
another third-down conversion
and 24 yards on the connection.
Hand-off, Barkley. And dives ahead.
Is he in for the touchdown?
Yes! Touchdown, Saquon Barkley.
On a cloudy day
But your momma always said
Look up into the sky
Find the sun on a cloudy day
[commentator] What a performance
by the New York Giants.
-On a cloudy day
-[music ends]
One down. On to the next one.
Philly, here we come.
Philly fans ain't sh-- about nothing.
[Anna] No, I feel they're gonna be wild
because of all the talk.
The people, like, are hyping them up.
I feel like they have to live up to it.
Philly ain't gonna be nothing.
[Anna] 'Cause I was there before
and it was no big deal.
When we up at halftime,
blowin' 'em out, the worst
they gonna hear is "boo."
[commentator] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
certainly not the city of brotherly love.
It's a hostile crowd.
It's playoff football.
It's a Saturday night.
[Chris] The talent discrepancy between
the Eagles and the New York Giants,
it is a different kind of situation
where you're gonna have to be perfect
and they have been far from that.
[commentator] Daniel Jones
is looking and pumping
and there's no one to throw the ball to.
[analyst 6] Saquon Barkley's got
seven yards on four carries.
Nothing's gone right.
[tense music playing]
[Saquon] We were not more talented
than that team.
The way we needed to beat that team...
you run the ball,
you control the clock.
You keep them off the field.
Me, having four touches in the first half,
is inexcusable.
That's not... There's nothing...
Nothing...
No way you can wrap your head around it
to make that right.
[reporter 2]
The big contract is Saquon.
Um, is that somebody
you would like to keep?
Listen, Saquon's done everything
we've asked him to do
and he's a good football player.
He's a great teammate.
And he's a guy
we'd like to have back,
it's just, again,
we operate on a salary cap.
How're you gonna divvy up,
how we're gonna create the roster,
what are the priority positions,
and how we're gonna move forward?
You know, again,
he's a guy that we'd like to have back.
[Saquon] I'd rather take
four or three million dollars less
and go with [indistinct].
It's really crazy, they'd be like...
Running backs have the shortest lifespan.
Which is, it's not false.
But they'll give you the ball 300 times.
And then say, we can't pay you
because wear and tear on your body.
[cameraman] Do you want him
to play football?
Would I want SJ to play football?
-[clears throat] Uh...
-[Saquon Jr. coughs]
If he wants to.
He won't be no running back,
I'll tell you that.
After the 2022 season,
Saquon Barkley was facing three options.
But really, it was two options. Right?
Because the options were
he could be a free agent,
which was never going to happen,
he could get franchise tagged,
or he could sign a long-term extension.
So, the franchise tag is
an NFL and NFLPA construction
that essentially, allows a team
to hold on to its great player
that they haven't reached
a long-term deal with yet.
What it is, is based on
a complicated mathematical formula.
It's a number sign to a one-year,
fully guaranteed deal.
The only people who like the franchise tag
are people who work
for teams or the league.
Because it gives them
a semblance of control
of what to do with players who...
Of course, they don't wanna pay.
They want to build the rest of their team.
They wanna keep money in their pockets.
Players still don't want to be
franchise tagged
because it robs them of what
many people are able to get
in their jobs and in their daily life,
which is the decision to choose
where you go, where you work.
I'm waiting on another person
to figure out
if I'm getting tagged or not.
When I thought I did enough
to get a deal done.
[Saquon] In my heart of hearts, do I think
the Giants will pay me what I'm worth? No.
I know what I bring to the table.
I'm not just a good player.
I think I'm a great player.
I think I'm one
of the better players in the NFL.
Who's your favorite football team,
besides the Giants?
Well, if I tell you this one,
and then, maybe, if I tell you that one,
-should we play on that team?
-Okay.
I think you should be on the...
-[giggles] ...the Eagles.
-Yeah.
You're gonna be on the Eagles, I think.
-That'd be pretty cool.
-Yeah.
Stay close to Grandma and Grandpa
and Nan and them.
-Yeah. Can I--
-You know that's where they live?
-They live in Pennsylvania.
-Yep.
I already know my Nan
lives in Pennsylvania.
'Cause I've been there before.
Shit.
-We need to get out of there.
-[laughing]
Come on, we're going to Philly.
What time is it?
-[Ken Katz] 1:45.
-Two more hours.
Two more hours, then we're gonna leave?
No, no.
We could still stay.
We could still get a deal done,
but, at least we'd know, at least we know
Daddy has a chance to make a decision
to go somewhere.
[Jada] Is that fun?
Is it fun? [excited shouts]
[Saquon Jr. moaning]
I mean, is it three o' clock yet?
-[Ken] Yeah.
-3:07. What's going on here?
Guess what? This isn't Madden.
This isn't Madden. This isn't Madden.
This is my life.
-This is my life. You understand?
-[James] You're the only x-factor.
This is not Madden.
This is my life! My life!
-[James] You're on my team.
-I don't care.
-In Madden you're on my team. I'm sorry.
-I don't care.
If I hit free agency, I'm always gonna
give 'em the benefit of the doubt.
I wanna stay in New York.
I don't wanna buy a new house.
[James] You do
everything fucking thing right.
You can say the right shit in the media.
Don't get in trouble.
Play well. Mind your business.
It still gets down to an hour before.
I already played the nice-guy role.
Less than eight minutes.
If he does it in this time now,
it's like, now you wanna fight.
This industry is crazy.
Oh, my God!
[Ken] They got it done.
Did I tell you?
[Saquon] Hello.
Yeah, I know.
They did that shit so quick.
[James] So quick, man,
right after the DJ shit happened.
DJ texted me at 3:52.
Said, just on, they tagged me at 3:54.
They sent me the letter at 3:54.
[James] Bro, I told you.
[deep sigh]
You wanna get drunk?
-Some wine.
-Awesome.
Been reading.
We can talk about
all the leverage he wants,
next year it's gonna do him no good. Why?
Because every team around the league
is capping their running backs.
There's not gonna be
a team that says,
oh, well, he sat out a year,
he's gonna be fresher, he's a year older.
Let's give him
a $20 million-a-year contract.
It's just not happening.
[Ryan] So we're at this impasse
with the Giants and Saquon Barkley
in a contract standoff,
mostly, because of historical devaluation
of the running back,
which I think is totally bogus
and it's based on what happened
to Todd Gurley's career six years ago,
and some other guys
in that same timeframe.
And it's just that cookie cutter approach.
Yes, once guys get towards age 30
at the running back position,
they break down,
but 27, 26 is a long way from 30.
You can still be a good player.
In the Giants' case,
he's their best player.
If you go to MetLife Stadium,
he's still the most popular
active-player jersey in the stadium.
When kids want their autographs,
the line is the longest
for Saquon Barkley.
When the media wants answers
and accountability
for why the Giants are losing,
the Giants put Saquon Barkley
on the podium.
It's the NFL,
so it's hard to win in this league.
Other players are struggling,
Saquon Barkley's the one
who props them up.
Just one! We just need one good drive!
When Daniel Jones was at his lowest,
Saquon Barkley was the one
who kept saying,
I believe in this guy,
I believe in this guy.
I know we have a good quarterback.
I think he's shown that multiple times.
There's intrinsic value to him
that goes beyond how many rushing yards
he had on Sunday.
They tried to use analytics
or recent memories
of how running backs were playing
and the injury data behind it,
of why you shouldn't pay running backs.
Even speaking on that,
I just hate that narrative.
I hate it. I hate it, hate it, hate it.
[Saquon makes playful sounds]
-[playful sounds]
-[Saquon Jr. babbles]
It's March 13th.
They tagged me because
they don't want me playing anywhere else.
They're doing what's best for them,
but at the end of the day
I gotta do what's best for me too.
I gotta get to a spot
where I can compete for a championship
or a spot where that,
you know,
they value me and wanna get
a long-term deal done with me.
The owner called me in and, like,
made it, like, made a point to talk to me,
and look me in the eye.
We weren't talking negotiation.
You can't talk negotiation with the owner,
it's kinda illegal.
But he's just saying that, like,
let me know how much they value me,
how much they care about me there,
how much I mean to the families.
Basically,
he told me that he wants me,
not basically, he told me
he wants me to be a Giant for life.
And, like, I'm like, okay.
I understand where
the running back market is going.
Like, you can't be naive.
You can't be stubborn.
I wanna get to anywhere from 14, 14.5.
That's what I wanna get paid.
What's up, boss?
[Joe] What's up, Saquon?
How're you doing?
Doing good. What about you?
Uh, you sure you think
this is the right course of action?
I mean, we...
John's not gonna trade you.
I'm just telling you that.
So that, like,
this won't change that.
And nobody's talking about this right now.
Here's the other,
here's the other reality, Saquon,
even if he was gonna trade you,
it's hard for a team,
and this is just from my seat,
to give up, let's say,
a first- or a second-round pick
and then you also have to pay a player
a bunch of money.
Like, it's just...
It's hard for teams to do that.
And, you know,
I wouldn't give you away, so,
you know, if a team...
I just don't understand why...
I just don't understand why
if we can't get a deal done,
why can't I get traded.
[Joe] Our deal, Saquon,
put you in the top five
of running backs in the league.
At 13.
Yeah, but I know
you guys think it's a fair deal.
I just feel like, um, that's not...
really the number I wanna be at.
And I don't really feel like
there's actually real negotiation.
I don't know.
I just feel like, you never know.
Maybe, me coming public
can spark something.
And get something done with some teams
and maybe some teams will reach out.
At least it's like a chance for me.
Instead of just sitting here,
looking like an idiot.
[Joe] Or we can do this,
you can do this behind the scenes.
You can have Kim call around.
I'd rather do it privately,
to be completely honest.
I don't wanna make a scene. Like I said,
the first time we sat down to talk,
I said that.
[Joe] But I'm just telling you,
John's not gonna do it,
so we're probably
beating our head against the wall.
Think about it for a little bit,
the deal that was offered.
And we can circle back up.
I just think you have so much goodwill
in the city over your five years
and, you know, this city loves you.
Like, it could go either way.
Like, maybe they're like, oh,
fuck the Giants, that's bullshit.
Or they're like,
damn, he turned that down?
I told Kim I wanted to get to 14, 14.5.
That's the number I wanna get to.
[Joe] Yeah, I know,
but I mean, again,
we had already stretched
to put you in very good company
over a lot of other backs.
And we have to, like,
I gotta do what's best for the team.
And I gotta do what's best for me.
[Joe] If I do that with everybody,
then we don't have...
You know what I mean? Like...
I'll just, I'll talk to Kim, um...
You know, we're trying
to do some other stuff here,
but I'll call Kim tonight
and talk with her.
I'm gonna call her right after this.
-Okay. All right.
-All right.
I was snapping while I was on the phone
with him, by the way. [scoffs]
I'm up 35-nothing.
I was born in Jacobi Hospital
in Bronx, New York.
Till I was, like, five years old.
[soft music playing]
But really, where I was raised
is Pennsylvania.
We left the Bronx,
in what, 2000 and...
One. I was 32.
And I was 30.
What do I appreciate the most
about my father?
It's just the honesty.
It's being open.
I was in jail one time.
And we was watching this fight
and I said to myself,
that's what I wanna do.
When I came home from jail,
that's what I pursued.
To become a boxer.
It kept me out of a lot of trouble.
And when I got injured, it messed me up.
I never... I never was right after that.
I had a problem.
-Drug use in the family.
-You know, with drugs.
-You know what I'm saying?
-He had a--
-You had a problem with drugs.
-I had a problem with drugs
and she had an opportunity
to move out here.
I was gonna move, regardless.
And I took the opportunity
to come with her.
And my life has been great ever since.
[Tonya] We moved down here,
but circumstances had it that
we lost our place.
We won't get into details,
but we lost our place.
And I mean, was we homeless,
sleeping on the streets?
[both] No.
But you know, we had to stay
with some family members
and being that we was a family of seven,
we had to split up.
The kids still make jokes about it
'cause they made jokes about it then.
And they would make jokes,
but it would make me cry.
'Cause they used to make...
What was that song?
It was like, brr, it's cold in here...
Because it was so cold in our house.
We didn't have no heating.
We used to have to
close the French doors together,
put something under,
put the heater in the one room...
It was, I mean, it was lot, but...
They may not have had heat,
but they did have lights.
You know what I mean?
[Saquon] My momma was a dog.
She just had the mentality of,
no matter what, we gonna figure it out.
There'd be moments when my dad,
you know, didn't have a job,
or wasn't doing the right things,
and she'd pick up two jobs.
Pick up two jobs and still come home
and take care of the kids.
[interviewer]
With football...
when did you genuinely see that
as a possibility for his future?
I seen that when he sat on my couch
and he said to me,
on Second Street, he said,
I'm going to the NFL
and I'm gonna buy you a house.
[Micah] What would you say
your biggest accomplishment was?
Or what you're trying to accomplish?
[Saquon] In football?
[Micah] Yeah. Or in life, like...
Outside football?
I mean, I got two homes.
That's an accomplishment.
I got my mom...
But I'll say buying my mom a crib.
So, what do you do if football don't work?
[Micah] Bowling.
[laughs]
Bro, sometimes, bro...
[Micah] I'm serious.
I'm really good.
I really think about you, brother.
Are you serious right now?
-[Micah laughs]
-Listen,
I'm asking you a serious question.
What're you gonna do
when you're done with football,
if football don't work?
And you look me in my eyes,
a grown ass man,
and say "bowling."
-Bro, I truly love the sport.
-I can't listen to him.
-[laughs] Hey!
-He's an idiot.
[Jamie] All right, after
franchise tagging Saquon Barkley,
there's been no movement
on a long-term contract
between the Giants
and their star running back.
[tense music playing]
[Kyle] This is the plight of Saquon.
If he signs this one-year deal,
he's not getting
a long-term deal next year.
His value would be less.
Why would I sign? This is my only shot
to get a long-term contract
and I gotta take it,
whatever I have to do.
It's 110 degrees.
Running hills?
[Joe] You try to do
what's best for both parties
and, you know, in this situation,
we weren't able to come to an agreement.
That's okay.
Saquon has to do what's best for him,
you know, for him and his family.
I respect the hell out of Saquon.
Why wasn't it able to get done?
Again, like,
we talked for over nine and a half months
and we came to, kind of,
a landing spot
and they came to a landing spot
and we couldn't bridge the gap.
It's a cold business
if you're a running back.
Ten million dollars on a franchise tag,
that might not be
what he had in his visions,
but I would not
be looking for 15 or 16 million.
[reporter 3] Are you worried
about any lingering unhappiness?
No.
[panting]
-This is peaceful as hell up here.
-Peaceful as hell.
The Giants decided
to franchise tag Saquon,
so they wouldn't lose him,
and to do a long-term deal
with Daniel Jones.
And so then, the wait begins.
Yeah?
-Hello?
-[Saquon chuckles]
Who's that?
[Saquon] Today is July 17th,
and I had till four o'clock Eastern time
to get a deal done.
[indistinct TV chatter]
[Ed Berry on phone] I don't see a path
past 11 and a half.
Somewhere like that
would be their best and final.
And then, you know, like,
we've gotta make a big-boy decision.
Like, do we take it
and we run with the money
and we call it a day, or...
Aaron Jones got paid 11 and a half?
[Ed] What?
Aaron Jones
getting paid 11 and a half?
[Ed] Yeah, his, yes,
he's at 11 and a half right now.
And his guarantee wouldn't be
what your guarantee was,
but he was at 12 even.
He restructured this all season
to 11 and a half.
All right, just keep me updated.
[Ed] I will. I'll call you
the second anything changes.
-All right.
-Yep.
[sighs] Every time I talk about this shit,
my blood just boils.
It's the principle.
That's all it is. It's the principle.
I would've signed for...
I would've signed for fucking...
eleven million dollars,
ten million dollars,
if they would've just operated
a whole different way.
If I feel like it was, actually,
in my heart, if I felt it was,
damn, they tried their best
to actually get this done,
actually tried to get this done,
and this is where we're at,
it's at 11 million,
then I would've signed for that.
Eleven... 23 million guaranteed.
Do you want die on the sword
over two, three million dollars?
[Jada giggling]
[Saquon] Is this the offer?
How bad? I'm gonna open it.
[Ed] It's not great. [clears throat]
It's not incentives, it's escalators.
What do we think on this deal?
And we need to come to a consensus of
we're all agreed that we're passing,
or we're all agreed that we're taking.
-Passing.
-And if we all agree...
-Passing.
-I say if we all agree...
-Passing.
-Saquon, whatever you wanna do.
Passing.
-[Ed] What?
-Passing.
Hold on. John-- Mr. Mara is calling.
[Ed] All right, do that.
Hey, Mr. Mara.
[John on phone] Hey, how you doing?
Did I miss your call?
Yeah, yeah, it's all good. Um...
So, yeah, I wanna
run something by you quick,
I just, uh, seen the offer
and, um, just talked about it
with my agent.
Once again, I appreciate that,
but I've talked to...
I brought this up to Joe
a couple times
and he kinda declined me
and said ownership won't allow it.
Um, if, obviously clearly,
I don't think we're gonna get to a place
where we can agree on a deal.
So, would you allow me permission
to seek for a trade?
[John] No, Saquon, I'm not gonna do that.
That makes no sense for us.
To be honest with you,
it's not gonna be in our long-term
best interest to do that.
There's no way that I'm gonna allow
to trade you at this point, no.
I'm just being honest with you.
Okay, I appreciate that.
You know, you're too valuable
to this franchise.
So it's like, I wanna be here, like,
you're telling me
you want me to a Giant for life,
I'm telling you
I wanna be a Giant for life,
but the negotiation and the contracts
that's being sent...
[clears throat] ...don't really feel like
it's matching that same energy.
And it's like,
I don't wanna go nowhere else.
I don't wanna be nowhere else,
but I also don't wanna feel like I'm stuck
and like I'm just,
okay, like, we got you
so you have to be here.
I know it's business,
but there's a human side to it too.
[John] Yeah, there is and that's why
we're trying to have these negotiations.
Because if it was strictly
a cold business,
this is where we would say, well,
screw him, he's gotta play under the tag.
And I would never, ever
want that situation,
particularly, with you.
That's why we're having this discussion.
We can agree to disagree, but,
you know, in negotiations, I mean,
players will always wanna be paid more
and the teams always wanna
pay a little bit less.
And that's just the way life is
in this business,
but that doesn't mean that
we don't value you and want you here.
And you know,
that we can agree to disagree
on the numbers,
but I think, just the fact that
we're continuing to have these discussions
and will go over and above
what the franchise number is,
should demonstrate to you
how we feel about you.
[Saquon] We didn't come
to an agreement, really.
Now, I'm faced with the decision if...
if I'm gonna miss camp,
if I'm gonna to camp,
if I'm gonna miss the season.
And, now, I got some thinking to do.
-They...
-[James] How many characters you got?
-I'm right here. They don't...
-[background chatter]
They don't want to...
This is what I'm about to put,
'cause actually,
I don't even gotta be politically correct.
I'm not in my post-career yet.
This is what I'm trying to get at.
I wanna, this is what I'm
basically trying to say.
I want the fans to know that I've said
I want to be a Giant for life, obviously.
It takes two to tango.
I've negotiated against myself,
trying to get multiple deals done.
I've asked to be traded,
there's teams that called to be traded,
and now I just feel trapped.
You won't trade me and you won't pay me.
[Ed] As the deadline...
As the deadline approached,
you know,
I did everything humanly possible
to get a deal done.
And something like, you know,
the other side won't engage.
Right? It's like...
Fuck it. I'm done.
It's not worth it. It's not even who I am,
if I'm being honest.
[Ed] Agreed. I like that better.
I wasn't going
to try to break the bank.
All I wanted was a fair negotiation.
Not just my back against the wall
and you used the tag deadline
against me.
It's like, take this or not.
Take this or not. Take this or not.
I called Coach Franklin.
I said, "You have no skin in the game."
He said, "You're right,
I have no skin in the game."
I said, "How do you think
I should handle the situation?"
And he said...
He pulled the heartstrings a little bit.
He said, "The Saquon I know,
since he was 18 years old,
would go there, show up,
ball out, and make it all work."
And I said, in my mind,
"You're damn right."
Breaking news coming in
to Good Morning Football right now
is that the Giants and Saquon Barkley
have agreed to terms.
The running back returning
to the New York Giants.
We are hearing this just now.
There is a tweet.
Giants and star running back
Saquon Barkley
agreed to terms on a new one-year deal...
One year, of course,
he was gonna be franchise tagged.
It's worth up to 11 million dollars.
[soft music playing]
[Saquon] It was year six,
week two, against Arizona.
[commentator] Right back to Barkley
and Arizona's ready to stop the run.
Barkley got crunched,
and he comes up hopping.
[Saquon] When I first hurt my ankle,
I knew I hurt it.
I was, I literally screamed.
And as I got up, I put pressure down
and then, you could tell
something wasn't right.
It's like, you know,
you're like golly...
it's just, why?
[commentator] Barkley needs a lot of help
to come off the field.
[tense music playing]
So then, everyone talked about
me slamming my helmet,
oh, he must've did
something really bad
'cause he slammed his helmet.
It was more frustration.
[analyst 7] You can see the frustration
of Barkley, right now.
Fuck! Like, damn.
Out of all years, like,
not this year, but...
Just a little adversity.
I knew
it wasn't gonna be easy this year.
It's like, if I can go, I'm gonna go.
[commentator]
Hand-off, Barkley. Stopped.
Didn't even get a yard.
[Saquon] I'm not gonna be able to do this,
at some point.
I can't think about the long-term contract
because there's really
no long-term contract to be had.
There's nothing I can do.
They still have me under a tag.
The joy was so far gone.
[analyst 8] Giants will try to figure out
who's back next year.
Will Saquon Barkley be back?
What are my contract predictions
for the end of the year?
Um... To be honest,
I have no hope, going into it.
Uh, I don't think I'm going
to get a long-term deal. Um...
[Craig Carton] The New York Giants
control every aspect of this.
If they wanna franchise him again,
it is their right to do it.
So, it's great that he wants to be here.
It's great that we, as fans, would love
to see him playing on a better team
'cause he's a great player.
But none of it matters.
The New York Giants are gonna F with him
because it's in their best interests
not to let him go for nothing.
No one's gonna give them
two first-round draft picks
'cause he's a running back.
And if they wanna bring him back
for 12 million bucks,
there ain't nothing he can do about it.
[tense music playing]
[Saquon] If I was a free agent,
at least I'd be able to entertain it.
I could see what numbers I'm gonna get.
Know what I mean?
See what numbers I get
from all these teams.
And that I'm in control.
I'm in the driver's seat.
If I wanna pick this
or I wanna pick that.
I've done nothing but represent
this organization the right way.
Like, it don't gotta be...
it don't gotta be like this.
It could be simple.
It's insane.
I can't go nowhere.
And you know why I can't go nowhere?
You wanna know why I can't go...
You know, like...
I can't go nowhere
because I do it the right way.
Everybody wanna do the thing
where, oh, okay,
the last running backs
for the last ten years
haven't been the top ten rushers,
or some shit like that.
Who are the quarterbacks in the fucking
Super Bowl for the last ten years?
It's been Brady, Mahomes, Joe Burrow,
and it's like, all like...
they've been, like,
there's only 32 teams,
there's only four or five
of those motherfuckers.
Everybody don't have that,
so everyone that has tried
to stick to that formula
are just fucking fucking themselves.
Fucking themselves.
I'm young.
And they say that, you know,
you're supposed to start slowing down.
Um, I looked
at Barry Sanders' numbers.
I looked at Walter.
I looked at Curtis Martin.
I looked at a lot of my favorite backs
and from 26 to 30
was kinda, like, their primes.
I'm in a position
where I'm heading into my prime.
I'm getting to my prime.
My only leverage, really, is waiting or...
you know...
could do some asshole shit, I guess.
Play and win championships.
That's all I wanna do.
[Saquon]
They're like, he's so selfless,
like, he's just a team guy.
[cameraman] What's the origin
of that being your brand?
[Saquon] It started in high school.
I run a 100-meter race.
I win the race. I win the gold medal.
There's a girl,
she runs 110-meter hurdles.
She wins, but there was
a malfunction in the beginning.
Right?
So then, they had to rerun the race.
She runs it again. She was gonna win.
She hits a hurdle
and she ends up losing the race.
She's upset.
And I'm just like, in my mind
I'm like, that ain't right.
I'm going to college.
To play football.
I'm doing track, literally, just for fun.
I truly don't care about this medal.
So I go up to her
and I give her my gold medal.
Somehow, someway, word got around.
And that was, like,
my first story of,
oh, Saquon, and like, da-da-da.
I had to do interviews
and stuff like that.
This was like my first time
I've actually ever went viral,
I guess you could say.
[Jamie] Breaking news out of the NFL.
The New York Giants
are not using their franchise tag
on star running back Saquon Barkley.
It means that Barkley is likely
to hit the market
as a free agent next week.
Fundamentally, they did not believe
in the second franchise tag.
I don't think they love the value
of 12 million dollars for one year
to a running back
that's all fully guaranteed.
I don't think they liked that value.
What the Giants told Saquon was,
go find your market.
[Saquon Jr. babbles]
-[babbling continues]
-[Saquon makes playful noises]
Whoa!
Landon Dickerson just signed
a four-year extension.
I don't wanna sit here and sound like
the bitter ex, 'cause I'm not.
All I wanted was an opportunity to go
and see what I'm worth.
And then match it.
[Ed] I talked to the Giants.
What's the word?
They're not coming in.
Perfect.
I called with Howie.
Yeah.
-You ready?
-Yeah.
I got you an extra million
on the guarantee.
[excited exclamations]
I should've known the guarantee.
[Ed] Twenty-five and a half
fully guaranteed.
[babbling]
[excited exclamations]
Tell 'em, sign the con...
send the contract.
What are you waiting for, bro?
It's good news. Good news.
-Can you say...
-[Saquon Jr. cries]
SJ, it's good news.
[Ed chuckles] It's good news,
SJ, good news.
Oh, man.
I'm gonna take it.
We'll take it, we're elated.
What are you talking about? Golly.
-Did you hear that?
-What did you get?
So, it's $25.5 million guaranteed.
Now it's at $24.5.
I was able to get
the guaranteed money I wanted.
And a chance to earn more money,
which, as a competitor,
you want the opportunity.
I get to create a new legacy.
I get to, you know, really, like I said,
the Brian Westbrooks to Shady McCoys,
I get to go chase those guys.
Try to do something where
my name can be mentioned with them.
Um, and that's the beauty of football.
[news announcer] Breaking news.
From rap sheet, Giants star
running back Saquon Barkley
is planning to sign with the Eagles!
-There it is.
-[shouting]
-Man.
-Bang. Bang. Bang.
Twenty-six million guaranteed,
-could be up to $46.7.
-Whoo-eeh!
[Saquon] I got John Mara texting me.
-[James] Really?
-He said,
"I'm sick about losing you,
but I understand
and respect your decision.
We appreciate everything you did
for this franchise.
You're a class act.
Wish you and your family
nothing but the best."
[James] Wow.
[Tiki] And Saquon has already
taken to Twitter himself
to say, "Thank you to everyone
who has shown me love and support
over the past six years. Forever grateful.
Excited for the next chapter."
Blue heart emoji. Peace sign.
-Okay. Blue heart emoji.
-He's dead to us now.
-Yeah, say it. 'Cause he won't say it.
-He's dead to us.
-You're dead to us, Saquon.
-Good luck. You're dead to me.
[Saquon] I had nights
where I couldn't sleep.
I just wanted to... [sighs]
...have success here
and dream about that parade in New York
and having those moments.
Unfortunately,
in the first six years of my career,
I only had one season
where we were really competitive.
And I envision, you know, going to Philly
and play with the Eagles,
every year, we're gonna have a chance.
[James] You fucking did it.
I'm proud of you, fool.
Appreciate you, James.
Now you just gotta go get a Super Bowl.
All that other shit you wanted.
Super Bowl. Offensive Player of the Year.
All that shit.
You need all of it. Need it all.
Get ready for overflow.
[woman 3] Oh, good. BG's here.
Let BG come in.
You gotta behave.
I'm not gonna let BG tackle you.
-He said he wanted to tackle you.
-Oh, right.
He can't do that no more.
-Not gonna happen.
-What up, baby?
Hey! What up, baby?
Just wanted to say what up.
I just happened to come by
and you're just on your way, man.
-Wanted to give you some love.
-Yeah, for sure.
-[Jada] Fly, Eagles, fly!
-[laughing]
-[Jada singing]
-[background chattering]
How do you know this song?
Daddy, I point at you 'cause now
you spell the Eagles!
-Wanna see it again?
-E-A-G-L-E-S.
[both] Eagles!
Whoo!
Fly, Eagles, fly
You got the, uh,
Stranger Things sweatpants on.
-Uh, yeah, I do. How did you know that?
-Because I watch the show.
-We have our GM, Howie Roseman.
-What's up, boss?
-I'm excited, man. Very excited.
-I know you are.
-Daddy's going on stage.
-Yes, Daddy's going on stage.
Cool.
Daddy, you're very, very cool.
-Uh...
-Very, very cool.
[giggles]
Looks good. Hold that. Nice big smile.
I have a positive outlook
because I'm fresh, I'm new.
I'm a rookie again.
My name is Jada Clare Barkley.
AKA Saquon Barkley's daughter.
The most thing his favorite is his family.
He likes most this house
because he's happy around here.
I think it's a nice place around here,
but there's way too...
there's so much traffic around.
[commentator] Tonight, American football
comes to South America
as the Eagles open their season
against the Green Bay Packers.
-[grunting]
-[tense music playing]
[commentator] Hurts is back.
Hurts is looking. Hurts looping it
and it is caught
for a touchdown by Barkley.
And right up the middle for a touchdown.
His second touchdown of the game.
I'd keep giving it to him.
Back to Barkley.
He pushes. He shoves. He's in! Touchdown!
Hey, three-piece!
Welcome to the Birds, baby.
[commentator] He just keeps churning.
He breaks free.
He's going to go!
He outruns everybody.
[Mike] Saquon Barkley, are you kidding me?
Saquon Barkley is the man.
It's October 19th.
Tomorrow we play
the New York Football Giants.
I feel bad for them.
I wish I was still on the Giants.
I like saying "Giants."
Let's go, Giants, let's go!
I feel really bad for the Giants
'cause my dad's gonna have to play
against his best friend.
His best friends.
It's, like, kinda weird 'cause, like,
it's, like, the first time
that I don't really have an answer
or I actually don't know how I feel.
I'm assuming I will probably have
a different perspective on it tomorrow.
You know, when I'm
actually walking in MetLife Stadium.
I wanted him to stay here,
but, you know, I believe that he
just mostly went for money, so,
you know, at this point,
I'm anti-Saquon, that's how it is.
I think Saquon's a great guy.
That was a business decision
for him and for the team.
I think he's a good person.
I don't blame him for leaving,
but he shouldn't have left for Philly,
you know what I mean?
I think it's just
because of the rivalry that we have,
like them being in the division.
It's like, it's like if a Yankees' player
is so Yankees
and then he goes to the Red Sox.
It's, like, you don't do that.
-[Cam] B, you all right?
-Yes, sir.
You doing anything special today?
Yo, we're doing shit special today.
[crowd cheering]
[commentator] It's the return
of Saquon Barkley.
Once the face of the Giants,
now a force for the Eagles.
[Saquon] Oh, man. It's a beautiful day.
It's a beautiful day.
["Ready 2 Go" by Kairo & Shaki playing]
[Saquon] Don't worry, I'm coming.
Hey, every time I touch the pill,
I'm gonna get booed?
How long that last?
The whole game?
I'mma shut 'em up.
Come on! You're a little ass boy!
I'm in the end zone.
You're a little ass boy!
That's me and you. Little ass boy!
Ha-ha-ha. Get your ass up.
Get your ass up.
Come on, baby. Come on, baby.
Come on, baby. [shouts]
Hey! Give me a crease.
I'll set this bitch off.
[music continues]
[Tiki] Saquon Barkley
comes back here,
and he put his stamp
on this football game.
-Belt to ass.
-Yeah.
-Belt to motherfuckin' ass.
-Belt to motherfuckin' ass.
Hey, go eat.
Mugga, mugga, mugga.
You're 13 yards away from you career high,
I would love for you to get that.
-But that's up to you.
-It's all good.
I just don't want...
I'm gonna take out all the starters
-if they don't score.
-You gotta let them eat.
-Sure?
-Yeah.
-You sure?
-I promise.
Now, listen to me,
I want you to do it if you wanna do it.
It's all good.
I'd rather see the young boys eat.
-How you feel?
-It's another game.
-How it feel?
-You know what I mean?
I'm gonna do it again next week.
You all keep playing like that.
Appreciate you. Appreciate you.
Seriously.
You see, when I get to a good team,
and now I'm playing at that level,
it's like,
oh, okay, wow, like,
that stuff does happen.
Would I have an MVP caliber-type season
if I'm with the New York Giants this year?
No.
A year ago I was as, I lost a step.
I wasn't this, like,
is he really worth it?
And now I'm
a "Player of the Year" MVP candidate.
He's got Hall-of-Fame talent.
But the Giants, obviously,
set him back in injuries.
["peekaboo (feat AzChike)"
by Kendrick Lamar playing]
[Chris] What matters is your legacy,
like, how we view his legacy
is being an injured running back.
He's a big boy. He knows it.
[commentator] Barkley
laying out some punishment.
Now, running with Barkley. Touchdown!
Hurts has time.
Now locates Barkley out of the backfield.
Barkley slips two tackles.
[Evan] I have never, ever, ever
seen that in an NFL game.
[Tiki] What is that? Bro.
[music continues]
[commentator] Barkley!
Does he have another one? Yes, he does.
Touchdown. Unstoppable.
[Mike] When was the last time you saw
Saquon Barkley have that kind of energy?
[commentator] What a night! What a season!
What a player!
[Nick] Franchise record for Saquon,
255 yards.
[cheering]
[music ends]
It's December 17th.
Uh... week... God knows.
Uh, just coming off ten wins straight.
Uh, something that
the Eagles never done before.
So, that's amazing to be a part of that.
But, moral of the story,
the MVP is an award
that goes to the Most Valuable Player.
For me to win MVP, I have to break
Eric Dickerson's record
that's been around for 40 years.
If Eric Dickerson's record...
is in the way
of us winning football games,
then, like, yeah.
But at the same time,
I'm not scared of it.
I'm not gonna be like, oh, yeah,
I'll tell you this,
I need 420-something yards in three games.
[commentator] Barkley carries it
20 times per game.
Has room and there he goes!
Saquon Barkley showing the speed.
He'll take it all the way.
Barkley, over 100 yards
in the first quarter in Washington.
Back to Barkley.
Barkley breaks the tackle.
He's at the 40.
He has just broken
the 2,000 yard rushing mark.
[Mike] He's gonna have a chance
at the record next week
if they decide to play him
against the Giants.
[Saquon] The fact that
I can break the all-time rushing record
against the New York Football Giants...
For this doc, for a story.
Like, you can't make this shit up.
I gotta be honest with you,
you can't make this shit up.
So, yeah, the story would be
so much sweeter.
The story would be so much sweeter,
you cannot make it up.
But, like,
truly, truly, truly, truly,
not for the reason why people think.
[Saquon] There's so many people
in that organization
that had to deal with my knee,
had to help me come back.
-[therapist 2] One more second.
-[groans]
The player you're seeing right now,
the MVP candidate,
franchise records,
records on records, or whatever,
would not be possible
without those guys over there.
[Rich Eisen] It was the hot topic
all week.
Should the Eagles try
to get Saquon Barkley
the all-time rushing record?
Nick Sirianni told us
it was a difficult decision.
Was it the right decision
to sit Saquon and the starters?
The Birds are locked into the two-seed
for the NFC playoffs.
If you have the opportunity,
going into the playoffs healthy,
which we are,
why wouldn't you do that?
The thing that matters
is winning the championship.
I'm locked in
to get ready for the Super Bowl
and try to have
the best birthday of my life.
'Cause February 9th
is the Super Bowl Sunday,
that's my birthday.
So, that's my celebration.
That's my party I wanna have,
is feeling that confetti fall on my face.
[commentator] Good afternoon, everyone.
Welcome to the playoffs.
Wildcard Weekend here in Philadelphia.
["Hear It from the Crowd"
by Liam Geddes & Megan O'Neill playing]
[loud cheering]
[loud cheering]
[commentator] Well, the Eagles are just
about into victory formation.
It goes to Barkley. And again he breaks!
He's at the 40th, and he falls down.
He could've taken that home.
But he said, I will fall down
and run out the clock.
-You said no ms.
-I know.
-You said no ms.
-Keep runnin', shit!
[commentator] Wasn't the best game
the Eagles ever played,
but it was a very solid win.
[Saquon] It's, like,
your coach is the one that establish it
and then a leader's gotta follow.
Take the message and put it into the team.
But it sends a message
to your team.
Like, what's this about?
I wanna fucking win the game.
We won the game. The call was "no ms."
If Coach doesn't call "no ms,"
I score a touchdown.
He called "no ms."
"No ms" situation is
if you get the first down,
you get down. That's all it was.
Saturday, January 18th.
Divisional round.
We practiced outside all week.
We kinda got a little snow.
Four to five inches.
Can't replicate that.
The only way you can do that is by going
out there and actually playing on it.
So you got to be conscious of the grass
and slipping and put on the right cleats.
Go team!
[indistinct chatter]
[Anna] Good luck.
You look fire.
-Thank you, bye, see you.
-Good luck!
It's a snowy day.
You can taste it. You can taste the snow.
-[Jada] Daddy! Ew! No!
-All right.
Better get straight to it, ladies.
Ah... Boo! We're here.
Hey!
[Jada] Daddy!
What took you so long?!
When did you get here?
We're just gonna go. I love you.
[Jada] Daddy, I got frostbite.
[player] Let's go!
[Saquon] I love you.
[woman 4] Here comes the snow.
[tense music playing]
[commentator] Gives off to Barkley.
He's got a first down and more.
Fifty, 40, 30, 20, touchdown!
Saquon Barkley...
[loud cheering]
[fan 4] We love Saquon!
Lot of snow. We want more snow.
[player 2] It's all night, baby.
[commentator] The snow comes down
with more intensity
than it has at any time this afternoon.
It's all good. Let's make a play.
Have each other's back.
There's going to be adversity.
We talked about this.
Do you have traction?
I mean, a little.
You're still gonna slide.
[Mike] The Eagles have the ball
on their own 22-yard line.
-Barkley time?
-[Cris] Oh, it has to be.
[commentator] It goes to Barkley.
He breaks a tackle.
-He's on his way. Here he goes.
-[loud cheering]
He's at the 40, 30, 20, 15, ten, five...
touchdown!
Saquon Barkley...
[Mike] He is a special football player.
[loud cheering]
Ball game.
[commentator] Through the snow,
all the way home.
He's hit another home run
against the Rams.
And this one might send him
to the championship game.
[uplifting music playing]
-I'm so happy for him.
-I'm so happy for you guys!
[commentator] What a game. What a game.
The run I had...
against the Rams,
that run to me was so special.
Not because of the touchdown,
just like, the moment that led up to it.
The place I took my head to,
all right, come on, it's that time,
and then, boom.
It's called flow. You just get
into this thing where you feel like
everything you do is right.
You don't second-guess anything.
You just let loose.
It all came together, like,
it happened in one play.
And like, you're
able to feel, just, the energy
within the environment.
The closest thing I could think of it is
a rapper playing their song
and they're not singing anything.
And everyone's just speaking for 'em.
Now, I'm playing
for the NFC Championship Game.
I think if I had this conversation
with myself
when I was eight, nine, ten years old,
he wouldn't even believe
the spot that I'm in right now.
-Get him down.
-Yeah, get him down. Get him down.
-I said help!
-Sister, what're you doing?
-[Jada] I said help!
-What happened?
[Jada] I said help.
[wresting sounds]
[Jada squeals] Yay! Thanks, SJ.
[Saquon Jr.] You're welcome.
It is January 26th.
The day of the NFC Championship Game.
The biggest game of my career so far.
-[child] Go, Saquon! Let's get 200 today.
-Yes, sir.
[commentator] For the ninth time,
the Philadelphia Eagles are playing
in the NFC Championship Game.
[Hurts] You live for days like this.
You hear me?
You live for days like this.
Let's do this.
[tense music playing]
Go, Birds!
[commentator] The very first play
of the game for the Eagles offense.
They pitch it out to Barkley.
Takes off to the outside.
He's at the 50. He's at the 40.
He's at the 30. He's gonna go!
Fifteen, ten, five. Touchdown!
Saquon Barkley!
Sixty yards on an opening push.
Chinn can't get him on the ground.
Martin can't get him on the ground.
Nobody gets Saquon on the ground, again.
The explosion. Amazing. Amazing.
He's channeling MVP.
He should be. He really should be.
Hurts sees Barkley.
Off to the outside.
His second touchdown of the game!
Hey, we're not done. We're not done.
[commentator] Barkley, runs wide.
Touchdown!
His third of the game.
And the Eagles...
not just beat, but annihilate,
the Washington Commanders.
[chanting] MVP!
-[fan 5] We love him here!
-[chanting] MVP! MVP!
MVP means Most Valuable Player.
Who do you think they think
the Most Valuable Player is?
Daddy.
Jada, when you see your daddy,
you be like, Daddy,
you got one off your bucket list.
It's been a long time coming.
We're going to the Super Bowl.
On his birthday.
Hey!
Hey! Birthday party in New Orleans.
[laughing]
Oh, my God, Jada, look!
[uplifting music playing]
-Daddy!
-What's up, baby?
-[man 5 ] Can I get a pound?
-Can I get a pound?
-Give a pound.
[man 5] Your dad's a legend.
Do you know that?
[Saquon] It's February 6th.
Couple days before the big game,
the Super Bowl.
I'm in a great spot, mentally.
Physically, with my body, um...
You know, going for however many weeks,
20-some weeks.
Um, just, kinda, just taking it all in.
Just getting ready for the big game.
All right, guys. Guys
that are talking, talk. You got it.
Um, I wanna start by saying thank you
to everyone in this room.
Um...
And I just wanna thank you guys
for welcoming me in,
and showing so much love
and so much support.
And as I watched film
throughout the whole week,
my confidence is even grown even more
and I hope you guys
are feeling the same thing.
These guys can't fuck with us.
They really can't.
I don't care how many times
they've been here,
I don't care how many times they won it,
they haven't seen a team like us.
-Do you know what, what today is?
-[babbles]
Give me your hand, you gotta put it in.
Say what today is.
Me, personally,
I'm not really a big birthday guy.
but to win the Super Bowl on your birthday
is, obviously, special.
I'm Saquon Barkley.
You're Saquon Barkley what?
You're Saquon Barkley?
I'm the first Saquon Barkley.
Then you're Saquon Barkley Junior.
-Yes. B-b-b... Junior.
-Junior.
-Can you sing for Daddy?
-[Saquon Jr. singing]
What did you sing to me upstairs?
[softly singing "Happy Birthday"]
Happy birthday to you
[commentator] The wait is over.
The championship rematch has arrived.
The NFL's two best teams,
the Philadelphia Eagles,
the Kansas City Chiefs,
are about to collide in Super Bowl LIX.
Right from the start!
Right from the start. Don't wait on it!
[tense music playing]
[grunting]
[Saquon] Come on, man.
That's a great defense over there, boy.
I'm talking about... sound.
Whoa.
[Nick] Hey, be the calming force in there.
-Right, be that man.
-I got you. I got you.
We knew it was gonna be a dogfight!
We're ready for that.
We're built for that shit. Come on!
Come on, D.
Get another stop, baby. Get another stop.
[tense music continues]
[commentator] It's intercepted!
-Oh, my God.
-Running with the football to the 25
is DeJean and DeJean is heading
for a touchdown.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Right here. Right here.
Right here.
That's a hell of a birthday present.
You keep doing that,
you're gonna have an even better one.
Keep going.
Hey. Do not fall for it at all.
Fuck the score board. Zero, zero.
We're here the whole time.
That's for everybody else.
We stay locked in.
Every time y'all make a play,
every time you make a play,
just keep in mind, everyone, right here.
Right here. Right here.
Till that clock strikes zero. You feel me?
[Mike] This really was
the season for the age of Saquon Barkley.
Most single-season yards, all-time, that's
the playoffs and the regular season,
he's over that now.
[commentator] Hurts to throw.
He's looking. He's setting.
He's pumping.
He rolls to the outside.
And he's firing to a wide open Barkley
inside the five!
I'm glad, bro... I say this every time,
I'm glad that motherfucker is on our team.
Hey! Keep going! Keep going!
Till the clock strikes zero.
Till the clock strikes zero. Stay here.
[Mike] The Eagles
are gonna run some clock
or, maybe, throw the dagger.
Hurts going deep for it all,
DeVonta Smith.
He has got it!
Touchdown.
Fuck yeah!
[commentator] This is amazing.
This is a route.
Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith.
-Good shit, boy.
-Hey, man, that's you.
-That's you. That's you.
-Come on. Fuck that.
-All of us, man.
-I know it's all of us,
but you gotta understand
the difference you made.
You know. We're right there,
but you're like that last piece, man.
[excited shouting]
Let's go, boy. Damn!
You almost hurt my back.
-All-time record too.
-Yes. Come on.
[commentator] And that'll do it.
Now. Now, now, now.
Yes!
-We did it, bro! You believed in me.
-Thank you.
[Howie] You know you believed in me, bro.
You believed in me.
I'm so proud of you. I love you.
So happy for you.
[Jeffrey] Unbelievable. You led the way,
but you're so the epitome
of everything I believe in.
-Thank you.
-Everything.
-Are you shitting me?
-I'm proud of you, man.
-Come on, man.
-Man, we can't be great
without the greatness of others.
We need you.
Always.
You changed this fucking team.
You changed this team. You.
You're special, man.
You're fucking special.
Not the player,
I don't even care about the player,
-you're a special leader.
-Thank you.
What does it feel like
seeing my family after the Super Bowl?
That was the best part.
[Anna crying] You did it.
You did it, baby.
-I love you.
-I'm so proud of you.
[Jada] Daddy. Daddy.
Hey, hey, hey.
-Daddy, look.
-That's pretty cool, right?
-Yeah.
-Come on, let me see.
Whoa...
They were there in my lowest moments,
they had my back in my lowest moments.
To have the highest moment,
to reach the mountaintop in the NFL,
winning the Super Bowl
and to be able to celebrate
with the people that were with you.
They know what I've been through
as a player.
This person,
they're right there by your side.
The job was done.
We went out there
and we performed as a team.
And won a Super Bowl.
But that's, like, my new driving factor,
is make sure I get back in that game.
Selfishly speaking, and being
just full transparent and honest here,
that is a goal of mine.
I wanna get back to that game
so I can have that moment.
I can put my statement on that game.
[all]
Happy Birthday, dear Saquon
Happy birthday to you
[loud cheering]
[Aliyah] Anna.
Thank you guys for coming,
I appreciate you guys.
Uh, seriously. Oh, man.
Shit. World fucking champs.
[loud cheering]
[uplifting music playing]
[Saquon] I played with vengeance
in my heart for one year.
Playing with that fuel,
with that in your heart, doesn't work.
It doesn't last.
["The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack"
by Liars playing]
[Mike] As great of a guy
as you see on the field,
he's equally a great guy...
[Cris] You can't say a bad thing
about Saquon.
[Saquon] Let's go!
I feel amazing.
I ain't gonna lie.
This, it's a whole 'nother level.
All these things, you know,
you visualize as a kid,
you visualize in high school,
college,
NFL...
Filmed over 127 days, over 700 hours.
[music continues]
All to capture a movie
where you feel like
a lot of people will be able to relate to
and see a different side of me.
Six years in my career.
The mindset is always the same
and the way I train is always the same.
When you come up short,
it's a real struggle.
It sucks 'cause as I continue
to accomplish things in my career,
it kinda always feels like that.
But I think it's supposed to.
And when you're done playing,
then you are able to go back
and, really, you know, take in
all the things that you accomplished.
Whether it's
you're a 2,000-yard rusher, or...
[commentator] And 2,000 for the season
for Saquon Barkley.
[Saquon] Offensive Player of the Year.
[commentator] What a night.
What a season. What a player.
[Saquon] Super Bowl winner.
Hey, the best year
in the history of skill position players.
Football can go
a long fucking time, Saquon.
-Long time.
-Come on.
Will we accomplish
what we wanna accomplish?
You party.
[music rises]
You have that parade
and then you're right back in OTAs
and the mission starts all over again.
People try to make it about the Giants
and me getting tagged
and them letting me walk,
that's not it.
It's the growth of a professional athlete
and how you go through ups and downs.
And right now, I'm in like, an up
'cause everything is going the right way.
I'm gonna jump over you right now?
[director] Three, two, one, go!
[Saquon] You get to see the journey
it took to get to this point.
When things are going wrong,
don't question God.
Because no time is better than God's time.
No matter how many times
things don't go your way,
how much belief do you have?
-[man 6] There it is, right?
-It don't get much better than that.
I think that's all
coming full circle right now.