PHILADELPHIA -- Saquon Barkley spent five years opening his life to a film crew and turning the camera into a personal diary for a documentary titled "SAQUON," yet he predicted that the film bearing his name would spawn a new star.
"I think Jada's going to be a big star after this," Barkley said by his locker recently with a smile.
Jada is Barkley's 7-year-old daughter. Barkley could add film critic to running back (and documentary subject), because his prediction is apt. The film, which began shooting in 2020 and debuts Thursday on Amazon Prime, traces Barkley's career from a devastating knee injury in New York through his contentious contract negotiations with the Giants and into his historic 2,000-yard campaign with the Eagles. That all comes through in the documentary, but it also shows a side of Barkley that is not apparent to those who only see him on Sunday (or, as is the case this week against his former team, on Thursdays).
"You're going to see the human side of me," Barkley said. "It lets people into my family, where I come from."
He also admitted that "I curse a lot," which he realized upon watching the film, and even that admission offered a window into what Barkley wanted in this film. It's not an overly sanitized version of Barkley that focuses only on highlights. There are vulnerabilities, with moments of doubt and pain that he hopes make him relatable. And any father who is smitten with his daughter will relate to Barkley, too.
"The big thing I do like about the doc is, it's not supposed to make me look perfect or like some star," Barkley said. "If you look at 'The Last Dance,' I think that was a great chance for guys to get to know Michael Jordan, the killer mindset that he had, what a great player he was. Yes, I had the phenomenal season last year. But I think it's relatable to a lot of people that go through adversity in their life ...My goal for this doc, it started off as me coming off my knee injury. It transferred over to the business side of the NFL. I didn't expect it to be a five-year thing and then it came to me coming (to Philadelphia) and having the ending on that part of my life, that part of my career. But I just wanted it to be a story that kids growing up, whether they play sports or not, can relate to."
(It's not just kids who can relate to it. If you have ever had a bad day at the office or heard upsetting news and just want to have a drink with your friends or your spouse, you might find this relatable too.)
The genesis of the film, which was produced by Martin Scorsese, was Barkley's torn ACL in September 2020. That's when the filming started, and it takes you inside the operating room and the road to recovery. That was supposed to be the dramatic arc of the documentary, which also delves into Barkley's background in the Lehigh Valley and football origins.
"To be honest with you, I thought I was going to tear my knee, come back, and have an (Adrian Peterson-type) season," Barkley said. "That's where it started from. It didn't go like that at all. It went the exact opposite of that. But for me, it was helpful because it became like my diary."
The diary style was apparent and provided sound narration for the different periods of his career. He would share his thoughts into the camera as if he were keeping a video journal, and the documentarians seemed to play the part of the therapist. The conflict was supposed to be the injury, but the following three seasons provided a dramatic arc that Barkley could not envision.
"Hard Knocks" took viewers behind the scenes of the Giants' side of the contract negotiations with Barkley. "SAQUON" offers the behind-the-scenes of what Barkley endured and how he approached negotiations -- from contract demands to trade discussions to the emotions employees in different industries might feel when they do not feel valued by their employer. Because the cameras rolled throughout 2022 and 2023, it was not just on the negotiations that landed Barkley with the Eagles but also the time when Barkley received the franchise tag and was kept from hitting the open market.
"When I was going through a lot of things, I was able to vent to the camera, speak on how I was feeling in that moment," Barkley said. "It made me realize a lot of stuff. I realized stuff where I could have been wrong in scenarios, where I could have been right, and you grow from it. I grew. It started when I was 23, 22 years old, until I got to 28."
With four of the five years of filming spent while Barkley played for the Giants, the crux of the documentary would appeal to Giants fans. For Eagles fans who watch the film, you could see the rivalry from the other perspective when Barkley was trying to quiet the Philadelphians who later cheered for him. You can also see the way Jada identified the Eagles as a potential suitor more than a year before Howie Roseman even negotiated a contract with Barkley. The joy Barkley felt when Roseman increased his offer (and the Giants were out) in March 2024 was apparent, and the excitement (and musical skills) of Jada moving to the home state of her grandparents was also evident.
Scorsese might not have foreseen the Hollywood ending that came in 2024, and the benefit of playing with the Eagles' high-end talent and the road to the Super Bowl also comes through. The filming even takes you to Barkley's Super Bowl hotel room in New Orleans, his breakfast on the morning of the championship game, and his birthday celebration in the hours after winning the Lombardi Trophy. There are scenes devoted to Barkley bypassing the chance to break Eric Dickerson's rushing record, although not as much as it would have been if the film were hyper-focused on his Eagles career.
Regardless, when you see it go from the knee injury to a birthday title run, it has one of these "only at the movies" feelings to it. Even with the storybook ending, Barkley wants the authenticity to be the lasting impression.
"I think it's a well-done movie," Barkley said,"and I hope people feel the same way."
* Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson will miss Thursday's game against the Giants with an ankle injury. It's the first game Dickerson will miss this season, even though he's exited two games with injuries and had August knee surgery.
Veteran lineman Brett Toth replaced Dickerson on Sunday and has been the top reserve at left guard dating back to Dickerson's absence at training camp. Toth, 29, has been with the Eagles off and on since the 2019 season. He's appeared in 25 career games and has two starts: one with the Eagles in 2020 and one with the Carolina Panthers in 2023.
"Great consistency by him through his time here," coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday. "Brett's been here longer than I've been here, and he is just a reliable guy that can do multiple things and is good at multiple things. So, he's consistent. He has ability to play multiple spots. We trust him and he has done a good job when he's been able to go in in times where we've needed him....A lot of confidence in Brett Toth. Think he's extremely tough mentally; physically; extremely high football IQ of what he can see and diagnose."
* Tight end Grant Calcaterra is out with an oblique injury. Calcaterra is Dallas Goedert's top backup and has four catches for 40 yards this season. Kylen Granson will move into the No. 2 spot, and Cameron Latu will become the third tight end.
* Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was a late addition to the injury report this week with a heel injury that limited him at the Eagles' practice session on Wednesday and has him listed as questionable for the game. This is a new injury that did not appear on the injury report on Monday or Tuesday. Carter, the centerpiece of the Eagles' defensive line, has dealt with a shoulder injury throughout the season. His status will be important to monitor in pre-game warmups.
* Linebacker Nakobe Dean has been a full participant in practice going back to last Friday and is in line to make his season debut after suffering a torn patellar tendon in January. Dean is officially listed as questionable. The Eagles would need to activate him to the 53-man roster on Thursday. With an open roster spot, that would not be an issue.
Vic Fangio acknowledged the possibility that Dean could return this week. Assuming Dean plays, don't expect him to fill the full-time starting role from 2024.
"Because he hadn't had any (2025) game (experience), no training camp - it wouldn't be a full-time role yet," Fangio said.
* Barkley would have missed practice on Monday had the Eagles been on the field, but Barkley categorized the knee injury as general soreness and nothing that was a concern for his game status. He will be in the lineup against his former team -- although that storyline does not carry the same hoopla as his return last October.
"I think the emotion is probably gone. I said last year I didn't know what to expect, being in that environment,seeing everyone back there,"Barkley said."It is a year removed from it now.It is what it is.I'm just focused on getting back on track and getting a big win in NFC East."
For a team that could use a big win to quiet concerns despite a 4-1 start,the Eagles should welcome facing the Giants—even on the road on a short week.The Eagles are 7.5-point favorites against the 1-4 Giants,who have the league's worst odds at making the postseason.Four of the Eagles' five opponents to date are among the top 12 in postseason odds.The Giants,who have a minus-40 point differential,offer the Eagles an opportunity for a "get right" game.
The focus will be on the Eagles' offense.It might seem like a correction if the Eagles feed Barkley four days after his fewest carries with the Eagles,but the numbers suggest why Barkley should be key against the Giants.New York ranks No.32 in run defense DVOA and has allowed 140 rushing yards per game.Barkley is best running back Giants have faced this season,and even with offensive line fighting injuries,this is chance for ground game to look closer to 2024 version.Barkley could have rushed for career high against Giants in return to MetLife Stadium last season before he agreed to sit late in game,and he should at least get his season high this week.