Saquon Barkley not expecting hostile crowd in return to MetLife Stadium: ‘I don’t expect to be booed’

The Saquon Barkley era came to an end for the New York Giants this past offseason when the running back signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.

The Giants reportedly didn’t make much of a push to retain Barkley during the offseason, but for many fans, that didn’t lessen the sting of the two-time Pro Bowler signing with the team’s division rival.

Now, Barkley is preparing to return to MetLife Stadium in Week 7 for a road clash against the Giants, the team he spent the first six seasons of his career with.

“I don’t expect a great reaction. I don’t expect to be booed,” Barkley said. “I look at it like this: The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Football Giants probably played in over 200 games. This rivalry was there before me, and it’s going to be there after me.”

Barkley is enjoying a strong 2024 season with the Eagles. In five games, he has rushed for 482 yards and four touchdowns while averaging a career-high 5.3 yards per carry. He has also made an impact through the air, totaling 92 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

His contributions have helped the Eagles get off to a 3-2 start this season. The Giants, meanwhile, are below .500 at 2-4, and they could really use a win over Barkley’s squad to get back on track this season.

Barkley was drafted by the Giants in 2018 with the No. 2 overall pick, and he immediately lived up to the hype upon entering the league. He led the league in scrimmage yards in his debut season with 2,028, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and becoming a Pro Bowler.

He remained effective in his sophomore season, but a torn ACL derailed his third season, and he didn’t look the same in his fourth season. Fortunately, he returned to his Pro Bowl self in the 2022 campaign before wrapping up his stint with the Giants in the 2023 season.

The veteran is now enjoying a fresh start with Philadelphia, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the emotions of returning to MetLife Stadium this weekend. He will likely have a lot to process, but ultimately, he’ll look to guide his team to an important win on the road.

After taking on the Giants, Barkley and the Eagles will travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.