The Philadelphia Eagles are now the top team in the NFC East. Their win in Super Bowl LIX over the Kansas City Chiefs proved it. This success comes from strong leadership, smart planning, and standout players like Saquon Barkley. A recent report from Yardbarker ranked the Eagles first in the division when it comes to leadership, giving credit to head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman.
Nick Sirianni has been the Eagles’ head coach for four seasons. In that time, he has won 48 games and lost 20 in the regular season, which gives him the sixth-highest winning percentage in NFL history for head coaches. He has also led the team to back-to-back NFC Championship games and now a Super Bowl title. Sirianni started with little national attention, but he quickly earned respect by winning.
Howie Roseman, known for making smart trades, using the draft well, and managing the salary cap carefully, has built the team’s roster. His moves have kept the Eagles competitive without needing to rebuild. Under Roseman, the team has built one of the strongest offensive lines in the NFL. He has also found key players for the defense. His style is both aggressive and balanced.
Their teamwork has helped the Eagles become consistent winners. While other NFC East teams, like the Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders, look for stable leadership, the Eagles already have it. The gap between the Eagles and the rest of the division has grown.
A big part of the Eagles’ 2024 success came from a change in their offensive plan. After starting the season with a 2-2 record, the coaching staff decided to focus more on the running game. This decision worked well because of the offensive line’s strength and Saquon Barkley’s performance. NFL analyst Greg Cosell said the team gave the ball to Barkley more often because they trusted their run-blocking.
In his first season with the Eagles, Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the NFL in both stats. He also broke the Eagles’ single-season rushing record and became the ninth player in league history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in one season. In Super Bowl LIX, Barkley had 57 rushing yards and caught six passes for 40 yards. His numbers in that game were solid, and his role in the offense helped the team win.
Jalen Hurts stayed an important part of the team, even though the offense leaned more on running. He said that winning was more important than stats, and the change in strategy showed the team’s focus on doing what works best.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Eagles plan to keep using Barkley as their main weapon. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore called Barkley a premier running back and said he was valuable as a runner, pass blocker, and receiver. The team sees him as central to their offense.
Barkley’s big year didn’t stop on the field. He was chosen to be on the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL 26. The photo shows him doing a backward hurdle against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9. He also received a 99 rating in the game, which only a few NFL players get.
The Madden cover was announced on the birthday of his fiancée, Anna Congdon. Barkley and Congdon started dating in college. They got engaged in February 2025 and have two children together. Barkley posted about the announcement and his family on Instagram.
Off the field, Barkley also joined C4 Sport as a brand partner. C4 is a workout supplement brand owned by Nutrabolt. The company said Barkley was a good fit for the brand’s message. Barkley said he had used C4 for years and liked the energy and focus it gave him. He also shared on Instagram that C4 and Walmart might be working on something together. The details of that partnership haven’t been shared yet.
After the Madden news came out, Barkley appeared on Good Morning America and talked about recreating the hurdle move with a harness for the photo shoot. He also said his mother, Tonya Johnson, warned him not to try that move again during a game.
The warning may have come from concern. In the game against Jacksonville, Barkley had 27 carries and 3 receptions. He totaled nearly 200 yards that day. In 2024, he led the league in total touches. A 2023 report by Sports Illustrated showed that running backs with the most touches often have trouble staying productive the next year. Barkley turns 27 this season, an age when many running backs begin to slow down, according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, in Philadelphia, Barkley has become a fan favorite. After his big performance, the popular cheesesteak shop Geno’s temporarily changed its name to “Steakquon” in his honor.
