Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 20, 2025
Al Bello/Getty Images
Daniel Jones had a great seat to watch former New York Giants teammate Saquon Barkley punch a ticket to the NFC title game.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that Jones and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard were guests in Barkley’s luxury suite for the Philadelphia Eagles’ 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Barkley put on quite a show, running for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in addition to catching four passes for 27 yards. His 78-yard scamper in the fourth quarter proved to be the game’s decisive score.
NFL @NFL
SAQUON BARKLEY 78 YARDS GOOOOODBYE!<br><br>📺: <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/LARvsPHI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#LARvsPHI</a> on NBC<br>📱: Stream on <a href=”https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NFLPlus</a> + Peacock <a href=”https://t.co/88LvtJoEFa”>pic.twitter.com/88LvtJoEFa</a>
Barkley and Jones spent five seasons together with the Giants. Their run ended when New York decided to let Barkley test his value on the open market, a decision that backfired spectacularly with the running back playing at an MVP-type level in 2024.
Jones no longer calls the Big Apple home, either, after his midseason release. He subsequently signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup to Sam Darnold.
Barkley told reporters in November that he and Jones remained friends despite playing on opposite sides in a heated NFC East rivalry.
“I’ve been in contact with him,” Barkley said. “Our friendship has stayed close throughout the whole process of me being here. It sucks to see how everything went down for him over there. I’ve got nothing but great things to say about him. You’re not going to really find anybody that can say negative things about him.”
The three-time Pro Bowler also expressed his hope for Jones to find success outside of New York much as he has with the Eagles.
