Saquon Barkley, Eagles OL Have Group Text to Discuss 'Favorite Runs,' Install Plays

A strong off-field connection with his offensive line may have played a significant role in Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's historic 2024 season.

Speaking to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata revealed this week that Barkley is part of a group chat with the offensive line in which they discuss their favorite plays, which ultimately become part of the gameplan:

"Two things: We appreciate him and he appreciates us. I think he appreciates us because it's probably the first time [he's] been in sync [with his offensive line]. And his keenness to know what we're thinking. He always asks us, 'What are you thinking?' He asks us almost every week, what are your favorite runs this week?

"We have a group chat, just the five of us and him. And we just go through our favorite runs, and I guess he voices it to his coach, his running back coach or [offensive coordinator] Kellen [Moore], and those plays are put in the game. You know I think that's the first time that's ever happened for us. It's a pretty special relationship to have with a running back who's always keen to know what we like."

Before Barkley's arrival in free agency this past offseason, the Eagles were long considered to have one of the best offensive lines in football, and they only cemented their status this season.

Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens were all selected to the Pro Bowl, while Mailata and guard Mekhi Becton produced at a high level as well.

Barkley benefited greatly from the offensive line play in front of him, rushing for a career-high 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The former New York Giants star became the first Eagles player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and only the ninth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Barkley finished just 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, and there is a good chance he would have broken it had the Eagles played him in Week 18 rather than resting him and several other starters with the No. 2 seed in the NFC already locked up.

The Eagles have bigger goals in mind, though, and they include reaching and winning the Super Bowl.

Barkley and the offensive line will undoubtedly be a huge part of that equation, as they combined to help make the Eagles the first team with at least 3,000 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns and a 4.9 yards-per-carry average in a season since the 1948 San Francisco 49ers, per Frank.

While Barkley had some productive seasons in New York, including a pair of 1,300-yard rushing campaigns, he never had the type of consistent blocking that the Eagles O-line provided him with this season.

That contributed to some winning football during the regular season, as evidenced by the Eagles' 14-3 regular-season record, and it is typically the type of style that breeds playoff success as well.

The synergy between Barkley and the offensive line will be put to the test Sunday when the Eagles host the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Wild Card Round playoff game.