Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Before his stellar season, Saquon Barkley came ‘pretty damn close’ to signing with Bears

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Before his stellar season, Saquon Barkley came ‘pretty damn close’ to signing with Bears

A look back at what could have been

Between bites of bean dip Sunday, Bears fans will wonder what might have been.

The Almost-Bear

What would have happened if Eagles running back Saquon Barkley chose the Bears last offseason when he became a free agent? Would he have been the transcendent star of a NFC championship team, breaking records seemingly with each run? Would he capture the imagination of a city — and a league?

Barkley said at Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday that he very nearly became a Bear last March.

“Pretty damn close,” he said.

A Different Outcome

He made the right decision. Barkley finished the regular season with 2,005 rushing yards, the eighth-most in NFL history. He would have had a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105, too, had the Eagles not sat him out for their season finale with their eyes on the Super Bowl. Throw in his playoff performance and Barkley has posted one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. He needs 30 more rushing yards to break the NFL record for regular season and playoff games combined. Terrell Davis had 2,476 in 1998 when the Broncos won the Super Bowl.

A Different Bears Team

Would his greatness have translated to a moribund Bears team in 2024? Would it have saved jobs? Won games? Helped Caleb Williams? Made the sport fun again?

It’s maddening to think about. The Bears were certainly interested in signing Barkley last offseason. As captured on an offseason version of “Hard Knocks,” Giants GM Joe Schoen considered the Bears serious players.

The Decision

Barkley had interest from the Texans, too, and at least briefly considered returning to the Giants, who drafted him second overall in 2018. Barkley showed flashes of dominance with the Giants, though his 2020 season was wiped out after just 19 carries when he tore the ACL in his right knee at Soldier Field.

He chose the Eagles in part because their offensive line was better than the Bears. Lane Johnson is the best right tackle of his generation. Left tackle Jordan Mailata had the best Pro Football Focus overall grade of any offensive lineman in the NFL this year. PFF rated the Eagles their best line at the end of the season, too.

A Different Outcome for the Bears

The Bears quickly pivoted to D’Andre Swift, the running back the Eagles were so eager to replace after one season. Swift’s three-year, $24 million deal was a bad investment in Year 1. He ran for 959 yards, the 18th-most in the league. But among running backs with at least 50 carries, Swift’s 3.8 yards per carry ranked just 48th.

Conclusion

Barkley has one hurdle left: winning the Super Bowl. On his 28th birthday, no less. It’s a reminder that what could have been is often a cruel mistress. Bears fans can only wonder what might have been if Barkley had chosen to don the orange and blue.

FAQs

Q: Why did Saquon Barkley almost sign with the Bears?

A: Barkley said he came “pretty damn close” to signing with the Bears last offseason.

Q: What was the Bears’ interest in signing Barkley?

A: The Bears were certainly interested in signing Barkley last offseason, and Giants GM Joe Schoen considered them serious players.

Q: Why did Barkley choose the Eagles over the Bears?

A: Barkley chose the Eagles in part because their offensive line was better than the Bears, with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata being key factors in his decision.

Q: How did the Bears’ run game perform after missing out on Barkley?

A: The Bears’ run game struggled after missing out on Barkley, with D’Andre Swift failing to live up to expectations and the team ranking 16th in the league in rushing yards.

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