Eric Dickerson can exhale. His single-season rushing record is safe for another year.
Saquon Barkley made a strong run at Dickerson’s all-time record of 2,105 rushing yards, which he set 40 years ago in 1984, but he’s going to come up 100 yards short of the historic mark.
Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told reporters on Wednesday that Barkley will not play in the season finale this weekend.
The Eagles have clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC and have nothing to play for, so Barkley will get the week off and finish the season with 2,005 yards – just the ninth player to ever eclipse 2,000 yards in a single season.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni told reporters, “We’re gonna rest some guys” Sunday vs. the Giants.
There will be no single-season rushing record for Saquon Barkley.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 1, 2025
Dickerson set the record in a 16-game season after O.J. Simpson did it in just 14 games. Barkley played and started all 16 games this season but won’t play in the finale against his former team, the New York Giants.
Dickerson said very candidly last week that he wasn’t rooting for Barkley to break the record and he didn’t think the Eagles running back would. Barkley would’ve had a great chance if not for the Eagles clinching the No. 2 seed, sitting just 101 yards away from passing Dickerson.
Even in a 17-game season, 2,105 yards is going to be hard for any running back to beat. Adrian Peterson has come the closest, rushing for 2,097 yards in 2012.