Saquon Barkley reveals whether there’s lingering beef with Giants after viral ‘Hard Knocks’ clip ‘saved’ him

Saquon Barkley might be the only one who is happy about the Giants’ “Hard Knocks” appearance last year.

The Eagles’ superstar running back, who rushed for 2,005 yards in his first season with the Eagles while winning a Super Bowl after leaving the Giants, went on the “Pardon My Take” podcast this week and was asked whether he hates the Giants.

“It’s funny because you would think from social media that there’s this big beef with me, (general manager) Joe Schoen, the Giants,” Barkley said to Barstool Sports’ Dan Katz.

“In reality, I still talk to them here and there. I got to see all of them before the game last year to end the season where I didn’t end up playing. … They were super happy for me for rushing for 2,000 yards the week prior. It’s a business. The NFL is a weird business, obviously. I’m not a fan of that side of it when it comes to the money side. But those guys were a big reason why I was able to get back.”

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Barkley’s season in Philadelphia was so special that he received MVP votes, and he believes the “Hard Knocks” clip showing what went into his exit allowed fans to view him differently.

The former Penn State star received plenty of vitriol from fans after leaving Big Blue for their heated rival.

“I’m kind of happy, though, it saved me,” Barkley said. “Because people thought that I just [left], you know what I mean? You have fans that are just blinded by it, and they just say, ‘Oh, he just left.’ But, you got to see that, yes, we had a negotiation process the year before, but that year they gave me the opportunity to hit the open market, which was the right thing to do by the Giants. A lot of people don’t talk about that.”

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Giants owner John Mara said in the show he would “have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia,” which ultimately came to fruition.

And to add salt to the wound, Barkley produced one of the best seasons by a running back ever.

Barkley added that he’s happy as ever to be in Philadelphia, where he just got a raise and contract extension less than a year after signing with the team.

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“So, for Joe Schoen and all those guys to be like, ‘The right thing to do by him is to let him test the market,’ and I gave them the opportunity to match it. Obviously, they felt that I wasn’t worth what they thought that number was,” Barkley continued. “And it’s the best thing to ever happen to me. I’m in Philly, I’m with Howie [Roseman], I’m with (security guard) Big Dom (DiSandro) and all these guys. I got the best offensive line in football, we just came off a Super Bowl win, and things are continuing to go great.”

The Eagles open the 2025 NFL season Sept. 4 against the Cowboys on “Thursday Night Football,” and may face a Dallas team that is without Micah Parsons amid a contract dispute.