Saquon Barkley enters the 2025 NFL season facing a daunting trend of decline that has affected nearly all players who rushed for 2,000 yards in a single year. After achieving this rare milestone last season and earning the AP Offensive Player of the Year award along with a Super Bowl LIX victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Barkley now aims to maintain his elite performance. However, history suggests that sustaining such dominant production is an uphill battle in the league.

Before Barkley, eight other NFL players reached the 2,000-yard rushing mark, but all experienced notable drops in their productivity the following season. Most of these running backs struggled to regain that top form later in their careers, underscoring how difficult it is to avoid the so-called “2,000-yard curse.”

Derrick Henry’s Example of Longevity and Near-Repeat Performance

Since 2000, only four running backs besides Barkley have broken the 2,000-yard barrier. Remarkably, Derrick Henry stands out as the only one to come close to repeating that level of excellence. Henry, who earned All-Pro honors and an Offensive Player of the Year award himself, managed over 1,500 rushing yards two seasons after his historic campaign. In 2024, during his first year with the Baltimore Ravens, the 31-year-old nearly reached 2,000 yards again, rushing for an impressive 1,921 yards.

Henry’s ability to perform at such a high level past the age of 30 is rare in today’s NFL, where running backs often decline earlier or receive fewer opportunities. This resilience serves as an important benchmark for Barkley, suggesting that replicating or approaching that success is possible with the right conditions.

Advantages Barkley Has in Pursuit of Sustained Success

Injuries have affected both Henry and Barkley during their careers, but one critical difference favors the Eagles’ All-Pro back: he runs behind the league’s top offensive line. Philadelphia’s exceptional blocking unit could play a key role in extending Barkley’s career and helping him maintain an elite level of production over multiple seasons.

While another 2,000-yard season for Barkley in 2025 is unlikely, approaching Henry’s near-2,000-yard output this year would place him on a path similar to that of the Ravens’ star running back—one that holds the promise of longevity, continued high performance, and potentially a Hall of Fame career. Achieving this would also mean Barkley breaks free from the historical pattern of decline that has plagued previous 2,000-yard rushers.

Implications for Barkley and the Eagles Moving Forward

Saquon Barkley’s effort to avoid the second-year drop-off after surpassing 2,000 rushing yards carries significant meaning for his legacy and the Eagles franchise. His ability to sustain elite production while benefiting from Philadelphia’s strong offensive support could redefine expectations for running backs following landmark seasons. Observers will be watching closely to see if Barkley can join Derrick Henry as one of the few to sidestep the NFL’s 2,000-yard curse and solidify his place among the game’s greats.