Eagles' Saquon Barkley hints NFL retirement will be sudden and come 'out of nowhere'

After eclipsing the 2,000-yard rushing people during the 2024 regular season, Saquon Barkley was named the cover athlete for "Madden NFL 26."

Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles past offseason. His historical archetypal twelvemonth successful Philly earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. By each accounts, the 28-year-old volition participate the 2025 play successful the premier of his career. However, the prima moving backmost precocious hinted that erstwhile helium does yet measurement distant from the game, it could beryllium sudden. 

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Saquon Barkley of the Eagles reverse hurdles implicit Jarrian Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars astatine Lincoln Financial Field connected Nov. 3, 2024, successful Philadelphia. (Elsa/Getty Images)

During a caller quality connected erstwhile NFL subordinate Chris Long's "Green Light Podcast," Barkley was asked if helium would measurement distant portion helium was inactive astatine the highest of his vocation oregon if helium would instrumentality around.

"I'll astir apt [be] 1 of those guys that it would beryllium retired of nowhere," Barkley responded successful notation to his eventual retirement. "I'll astir apt conscionable aftermath up 1 day, whether it's adjacent twelvemonth oregon 2 years oregon 4 years and conscionable beryllium like, 'Yeah, it's over.' I don't deliberation I volition ever suffer that passion."

Barkley past cited Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders' shocking determination to locomotion distant from the NFL successful 1998.

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"The competitory quality is ever going to beryllium there. I like, astir apt my favourite subordinate of each clip is Barry Sanders, truthful astir apt akin to that. Maybe 1 day, similar it'll beryllium retired of nowhere, I'll astir apt beryllium ballin', and conscionable beryllium like, ‘Yeah, telephone it quits.’"

Eagles moving backmost Saquon Barkley leaps implicit Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, Nov. 3, 2024, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Sanders racked up 15,269 vocation rushing yards earlier helium abruptly retired. He needed little than 1,500 yards to drawback up to Walter Payton's past all-time rushing record. Dallas Cowboys large Emmitt Smith presently sits atop the league's all-time list.

Philadelphia Eagles moving backmost Saquon Barkley carries the shot against the New York Giants astatine MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

The Eagles rewarded Barkley's productive 2024 run with a lucrative two-year declaration extension. Barkley entered the 2025 run with 7,216 vocation rushing yards and was a cardinal portion of the Eagles' tally to the Super Bowl LIX title.

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Barkley is credited with 7 NFL seasons, portion Sanders played a full of 10 years successful the league.

Fox News’ Connor McGahan contributed to this report.

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