Saquon Barkley has always been a force of nature—legs churning, defenders flailing, the kind of runner who turns broken plays into breathtaking highlights. As he stands on the doorstep of his first Super Bowl, the stakes have never been higher. The Lombardi Trophy is within reach, a dream he’s chased since childhood. And fittingly, it all comes down to a birthday showdown on February 9—Barkley’s 28th. He is going to do everything it takes to have it in his hands. It would be the ultimate gift, a moment of football immortality.

“I think just winning the Super Bowl, in general, is such a cool moment, and it puts you in football royalty. It’s something that you’ve wanted to accomplish since you were a little kid. Whether it was on my birthday or not, to be able to win it would mean everything to me in the world,” Saquon said at the opening press conference of Super Bowl LIX. What stands between him and his childhood dream? Well, the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. The team that’s ended many teams’ journeys this year, a team in front of whom nobody has stood a chance. Will Saquon Barkley be able to work his magic?

Behind the dreams and celebrations, there’s an undeniable truth: every big run, every tough carry, is a testament to his resilience. Because the road to this moment? It’s been paved with pain, setbacks, and relentless comebacks. For all the explosive runs and jaw-dropping cuts, his greatest battle has never been against linebackers or secondaries. It’s been against the one opponent no player can stiff-arm: injuries. So, as you wait for the big game, we’ve traced for you the injury history of Philly’s offensive star.

Saquon Barkley’s injury history

Saquon Barkley, a three-time Pro Bowler and Penn State alum, lit up the college gridiron before making his NFL jump in 2018. John Mara and the Giants locked him in with a massive $31.2 million deal. Barkley wasted no time proving his worth, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. And, like every player, he has had his fair share of highs and lows with injuries. But for a warrior who’s always in the thick of battle, facing adversity was nothing new.

So, here’s a look at his past injuries throughout his NFL career.

Before making it to the NFL, Barkley dealt with ankle sprains in back-to-back years while playing for the Nittany Lions.

Barkley’s approach to staying healthy

Playing in a league like the NFL is no joke. You’ve got to stay fit, which brings us to Saquon Barkley’s health mantra. Barkley led the NFL with 378 touches this year, the fourth-most in Eagles history. It’s not some magic or superpower -it’s all about the consistency and hard work he puts in day in and day out. Philly’s offensive tackle Jordan Mailata backs that up too, stressing how it’s all about consistency. 

“Consistency in his routine. I mean, I’m big on my routine. So I live in the training room. It’s the same guys every week. Smitty, A.J., Saquon, me,  Z.B. Same guys. I love to see it…..You see it and when he does something, you want to do it. When he says something, you want to listen. If he believes something, I believe it,” shared Jordan. 

This league’s tough on players. Doesn’t matter if you’re a Super Bowl champ -once you hit your 30s, the doubters come crawling out. And the Eagles RB knows this well. So he put in all the effort to keep him in great shape. “He’s an ultimate pro, knows how important it is to stay in shape—keeping his weight right, hitting the gym hard, and doing all the prehab and rehab stuff. He takes care of his body so he can keep touching the ball like that,” said Nick Sirianni.

Saquon turns 28 on Feb 9, but he’s not hanging up his cleats anytime soon. He’s got a huge game coming up too. Let’s see if he can cap off his fantastic season with his first Lombardi!