Saquon Barkley breaks 27-year-old NFL record during Super Bowl LIX

Philadelphia Eagles running back, Saquon Barkley, made history on Sunday during Super Bowl LIX, setting a new NFL record for the most yards from scrimmage accumulated over the regular season and playoffs. The remarkable achievement came on the very first play from scrimmage in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Saquon Barkley breaks NFL record: a historic first play

On a first-down handoff early in the Super Bowl, Barkley darted to the left, gaining four yards. This run pushed him past the previous record of 2,762 yards, held by former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis.

Barkley's total now stands at 2,764 yards, combining his regular-season and postseason performance. Davis’ record had stood firm for 26 years, since his 1998 season.

Saquon Barkley’s journey to the record

Barkley, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, entered the game with 2,760 total yards from scrimmage, having accumulated 2,283 yards during the regular season and 477 in the playoffs.

This left him just three yards short of breaking the long-standing record, which he achieved on his very first carry of the game.

A birthday milestone and additional records within reach for Saquon Barkley

Celebrating his 28th birthday on the day of the game, Barkley is now also closing in on another Davis record: the most combined rushing yards in a season, including playoffs. Davis holds the record with 2,476 rushing yards from his 1998 season, and Barkley was only 29 yards away from surpassing that mark going into the Super Bowl.

Barkley came into the big game with 2,447 rushing yards—2,005 from the regular season and 442 from the playoffs—just shy of Davis' rushing milestone.

Climbing the All-Purpose Yards rankings

In addition to breaking the scrimmage yards record, Barkley was also closing in on another significant all-purpose yards record. Before the Super Bowl, Barkley was 268 yards away from surpassing Darren Sproles' total of 3,027 all-purpose yards from the 2011 season with the New Orleans Saints, a feat Barkley could achieve with a strong postseason finish.

Saquon Barkley's incredible performance in Super Bowl LIX not only cemented his place in NFL history but also set the stage for a career-defining season. As he continues to climb the all-time records, Barkley remains one of the most dynamic and explosive running backs in the league today.