Tom Brady shades Giants over Saquon Barkley ‘mistake’
Tom Brady was just stating the obvious.
As Saquon Barkley exploded for three touchdowns in Philadelphia’s NFC Championship win Sunday over the Commanders, Fox’s lead NFL analyst jabbed the Giants for letting their now-former running back leave in free agency.
“Giant mistake letting him go,” Brady remarked on the broadcast alongside play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt.
Barkley, already having a dominant postseason, rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries for three touchdowns against Washington, including a 60-yard score on Philadelphia’s first play of the game at Lincoln Financial Field.
He also appeared to get away with a holding penalty, something Brady, 47, took note of.
“I think [Saquon Barkley] gets away with a little bit of a hook,” the future Hall of Famer said before inquiring Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira, who replied, “I don’t think there’s anything to think about. That was clearly a hold and should’ve been called.”
Despite the apparent miss, the Eagles ran away with the game as Barkley punched his ticket to the Super Bowl for the first time in his career with the 55-23 victory.
“The goal wasn’t just getting there, the goal is to win, and we’re going to celebrate and enjoy this, get right back to work,” Barkley, 27, told Fox’s Erin Andrews on the field postgame.
It’s been a spectacular season for Barkley, who rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s divisional round win over the Rams.
In December, he became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, finishing his 2024 campaign at 2,005 yards.
Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in the offseason, has since been nominated for this year’s MVP Award and Offensive Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Giants — where Barkley spent the first six years of his NFL career — are turning the page on an ugly 3-14 season that saw the release of starting quarterback Daniel Jones after a 2-8 start.
Jones, who later joined the Vikings, was in Barkley’s box last week during Philadelphia’s divisional round triumph.
