"Saying that is ridiculous": Ex-NFL QB takes issue with Saquon Barkley's comment on Eric Dickerson's record

The brewing debate around Saquon Barkley's potential pursuit of Eric Dickerson's NFL rushing record has sparked passionate responses. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel fiercely defended Barkley against critics questioning the legitimacy of breaking the record in a 17-game season.

Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles' star running back, sits just 101 yards shy of Dickerson's historic mark of 2,105 rushing yards. Dickerson set this record with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984 and has publicly expressed his desire for it to remain untouched.

Speaking on "The Facility" show on Jan. 1, 2025, Daniel addressed the social media criticism surrounding Saquon Barkley's potential achievement:

"Saquon Barkely should NOT play to break a record … but saying that the record won’t matter because he’s played one more game is ridiculous. If he plays, he will break the record with less carries thAn Dickerson," said Daniel in the caption of the retweeted video snippet.

The conversation intensifies as Saquon Barkley, who recently became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, approaches this milestone. His current season average of 125.3 yards per game stands as the highest in the 17-game era.

Saquon Barkley's numbers tell the true story

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles - Source: Imagn

Chase Daniel went further in his defense of Barkley. He emphasized efficiency over game count, highlighting a crucial statistical comparison:

"Saquon has 345 rushing attempts right now as it stands. So currently, Eric Dickerson has 34 more rushing attempts. So, there's a way. And if he does go out there and break it, that Saquon is going to do it in less attempts than Eric Dickerson," Daniel explained.

The Eagles face a complex decision heading into their final regular-season game against the New York Giants. With their No. 2 seed in the NFC locked up, they must weigh Barkley's historic opportunity against playoff preparation.

A CBS Philadelphia Instagram poll revealed over 60% of fans support letting Saquon Barkley chase the record.

The debate mirrors Barkley's perspective on NFL rushing records. He previously referenced O.J. Simpson's achievement of rushing for 2,000 yards in just 14 games. This suggests that the evolution of the NFL schedule has always influenced how records are viewed and broken.

Barkley himself has addressed the season-length debate:

"I'm not into like, 'Oh, if you do it in 17 or 16 games.' I'm a fan of the position. If that's the case, then O.J. got the record. O.J. did it in 14 games," Barkley said Sunday, referencing Simpson's 143.1 yards-per-game average in 1973.

The conversation mirrors the NFL's evolving history. When Dickerson broke Simpson's record in 1984, he needed 15 games. Similarly, Simpson required all 14 games to surpass Jim Brown's 1963 mark of 1,863 yards.