Eagles star Saquon Barkley makes shocking retirement admission, makes comparison to ex NFL icon

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley may not have any concrete retirement plans but the athlete just made a shock admission regarding when he plans to hang up his cleats.

Barkley impressed with his debut season with the team and was quite key in helping the team secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.Moreover, Barkley is just 28, and he may have quite a few good years left. However, during his appearance on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast, Barkley said something which surprised his fans. Former Eagles defensive end Chris Long asked Saquon whether he has thought about his retirement.

When will Saquon Barkley retire? Eagles athlete makes surprising admission

"I’ll probably be one of those guys that it’ll be out of nowhere," Barkley said. "I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year or two years or four years, and just be like, ‘Yeah, it’s over.'" Barkley also drew comparisons to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who retired at 31.Barry Sanders, whom Barkley refers to, retired from the NFL on July 27, 1999, just before the start of training camp for what would have been his 11th season with the Detroit Lions.

Sanders had admitted to losing his passion for the game despite rushing for over 1,400 yards in the previous season and being in top form.Barkley noted that, despite his commitment to the league and a strong competitive drive, he could see himself walking away from football without much advance notice.These remarks come on the heels of his stunning first season with the Eagles. After inking a three-year, $37.75 million contract in March 2024, the former Giants star racked up 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season, then tacked on another 499 yards and five scores in the playoffs.