Saquon Barkley was one the NFL’s unluckiest players in 2024 despite historic season

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley put together a historic 2024 campaign, but a newly revealed stat shows his season could have been even more prolific.

According to NFL.com, Barkley led the league in one of the most frustrating categories for any offensive player: tackles at the 1-yard line. He was brought down just short of the end zone 11 times, the most by any player in the NFL last season.

The Eagles RB put up 2,000 rushing yards and earned AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, but his stat line could have been even more outlandish.

Barkley set a career high with 13 rushing touchdowns but was also tackled a league-high 11 times on the opponent’s 1-yard line in 2024. Those 11 plays occurred over nine drives (two instances of being tackled twice at the 1-yard line in the same drive) and resulted in seven Jalen Hurts rushing TDs, one Hurts passing TD and one field goal.

The most any other player got tackled on the 1-yard line last season was eight times. Five players tied for that mark: the Cardinals’ James Conner, Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard, Lions’ David Montgomery, Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving and Commanders’ Brian Robinson.

Even without converting those opportunities, Barkley still finished the season with 15 total touchdowns and over 2,000 rushing yards.

Had he punched in a few more of those close calls, Barkley might have surpassed the 20-touchdown mark.

.@Saquon knew the tush push was coming after he got stopped at the 1 yard line 😆 pic.twitter.com/zHUtXK5YdP

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) December 12, 2024

Mandatory Credit: Getty Images