Things haven’t been great for New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley lately. The former second overall pick dealt with injuries in the past few seasons, and his production saw a sharp decline since his Pro Bowl days as a rookie.
Barkley’s struggles led many to question whether he’ll be with the Giants for much longer, but in the 24-year-old’s mind, there is no doubt about where his future in NFL lies. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, the Penn State product said that he wants to remain in New York and hopes this will be the place where he finishes his pro career.
“When I got drafted here, I said I want to be here for the rest of my life. I was born in New York, I’m from Pennsylvania. I live an hour and some change from my parents’ house,” Barkley said. “This is where I started my career, where I would love to finish my career.”
Barkley also believes that there are better days ahead for the New York Giants, who are 19-42 since drafting him, and plans on making a significant contribution to that cause.
“I know this thing is going to turn around, and I would love to be a part of the reason it does,” he added.
Saquon Barkley burst on the NFL scene with a stellar rookie season that saw him rush for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns. But after another 1,000+ rushing yards outing in his sophomore year, things went sideways for Barkley.
In his second game of the 2020 season, Barkley tore his ACL and had to miss the remainder of the year recovering. He recovered in time to start this season but again dealt with injuries that caused him to miss five games.
In nine games he played in 2021, Barkley was far less efficient compared to his early days in the league. He currently has 379 rushing yards on 100 carries while managing just two TDs.
