Saquon Barkley
NEW YORK GIANTS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Running Back | Penn State University | 6 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
Saquon Barkley's talent made him the No. 2 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, and right away, he became a powerful force at running back for the New York Giants. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league with a Giants rookie-record 2,028 yards from scrimmage. Barkley also set franchise rookie records with 1,307 rushing yards, 91 receptions, and 15 touchdowns. When he ran for 1,003 yards in 2019, he became the first player in Giants history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. On Dec. 22, 2019, Barkley set a franchise record with 279 yards from scrimmage in a victory at Washington.
He then suffered a torn right ACL and meniscus in the second game of the 2020 season and worked tirelessly for two years to regain his form. In 2022, he helped lead the Giants to the playoffs with 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on 295 carries, and another 338 yards on 57 receptions in 16 regular season games, earning Pro Bowl honors for the second time.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Barkley could always rely on the support of his parents as a child, even when his family didn't have their own place to call home. For this reason, he has used his time and platform to support two local charities that assist young people facing similar struggles. He has contributed to Children of Promise NYC, a nonprofit that supports kids impacted by the incarceration of a parent or sibling by providing after-school programming and summer camps, counseling and therapy, mentoring, and family support. Barkley also adopted Covenant House New Jersey, which helps young people ages 18-21 facing homelessness and human trafficking by offering immediate shelter and longer-term services to help them transition to independence. Since 2018, Barkley has brought three kids and one staff member
from both organizations to 31 home games, greeting them on the sidelines, and then bringing them down to the locker room to spend meaningful time with them. He also hosted 50 youth and staff at training camp this year.
In addition, he is the celebrity chairman of Covenant House New Jersey's "Sleep Out: Executive Edition" overnight fundraiser. Prior to his involvement, the annual event raised $750,000, but now raises $1.6 million and was held at MetLife Stadium in 2023. This year's Giants Significant Others also hosted their own "Sleep Out" fundraiser raising another $500,000. Overall, he has used the power of his celebrity to raise an amazing $7 million in critical funds for Covenant House in the last five years. Barkley's work has inspired others to get involved as well. Giants President and CEO, John Mara, recently joined the Board of Covenant House Action and Research Tank (CHART), which will research and track youth homelessness and human trafficking data to identify potential solutions and strategies.
Barkley also hosted a free football camp for kids in Jersey City, NJ, this summer and helped coach the St. Luke's Youth Football Camp in Whitehall, PA.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Barkley has always focused on the communities that have raised him: his birthplace of the Bronx, NY, his hometown of Whitehall, PA, and the New York & New Jersey communities that he now represents as a Giant.
For Thanksgiving every year, he and his family personally hand out 500 turkeys and meals in the Bronx and have also provided Thanksgiving meals for underserved families in Lehigh Valley, PA and East Orange, NJ. In Whitehall, PA, Barkley also sponsored an annual back-to-school celebration with backpacks and school supplies for 300 youth.
In April 2022, Barkley partnered with St. Luke's University Health Network to create the "Saquon Barkley Center of Excellence," a multi-purpose sports facility that will provide opportunities for underserved youth to benefit from physical activity, academic support, and health and wellness services near his hometown.
As a thoughtful advocate for his community, Barkley joined other NFL stars in a widely viewed video condemning racism and violence toward black and brown people in the days following the murder of George Floyd. In 2022, he supported the NFL's "Inspire Change" platform by filming the "We See You" commercial highlighting the 600 organizations across the country that the NFL, its clubs, and players have supported in their mission.
For all his amazing charitable efforts, Barkley received the United Way of New York City's "Hometown Hero" Award at their 2022 Gridiron Gala, helping the vital nonprofit raise a remarkable $2.4 million for children and families in New York City.
Throughout the year, Barkley can be seen supporting his teammates in each of their charitable efforts by attending their events, as well as those hosted by the Giants.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
As a child, life was not always easy for Barkley's family. Now, as a star in the NFL, he has created the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation to honor his grandmother, and to provide resources to families who are experiencing similar challenges as they dream for a better life.
Barkley has also made numerous wishes come true every year of his career through the Make-a-Wish Foundation of New Jersey by hosting children experiencing life-threatening illness for visits to practice, followed by an amazing game-day experience. Since his rookie year, he has also used the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative to celebrate his niece, Amirah Johnson, and raise awareness and funding for research of her exceedingly rare genetic disorder called DiGeorge Syndrome or "22Q."
Barkley's positive character has not gone unnoticed by his teammates, who recently voted for him to serve as Giants team captain for the fifth consecutive season, serving in this leadership role every year since he was a rookie. He consistently embodies what it means to be a Giant.
