Saquon Barkley’s possible final Giants game ended with a heart-melting moment | Politi

New York Giants return man Gunner Olszewski (80) goes airborne as he is hit low by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Patrick Johnson (48) during a punt return in the first half, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Saquon Barkley reached into his equipment bag and pulled out the No. 26 jersey he wore in his final game of the 2023 season — maybe, too, the final game jersey of his Giants career. Then he reached in again and grabbed the cleats that he wore during a 27-10 victory over the Eagles — maybe, too, the cleats he wore in his last appearance at MetLife Stadium with the team.

He thrust both of them into the arms of Hamish Fenton, a shy 11-year-old boy from Rye, N.Y., who is fighting a rare form of cancer. “You were my good luck charm!” Barkley told the stunned boy, a wide smile cracking on both of their faces. Then the running back pulled the appreciative kid in close for a hug, the hairs of his beard rubbing across the top of the kid’s bald head.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) hands the ball to a young fan after he scored the first of his two touchdowns in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Oh. My. God,” Hamish said to his friends as he walked out of the locker room. “What the hell just happened?!”

If this was truly the end for Barkley as a member of the Giants, it would be hard to have scripted a more fitting and heart-melting moment. Maybe Barkley didn’t become the “gold-jacket guy” that the Giants thought they were drafting in 2018, but he certainly represented them with a Hall of Fame level of class throughout his six seasons in East Rutherford. He is their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee for a reason.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) leaves the field after he was injured during the first half against the New York Giants, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

But if this really was it, the day was also so much closer to what Barkley had envisioned for his NFL career when the former Penn State star strode onto the NFL draft stage in Arlington, Texas, to slip on a Giants cap as the No. 2 overall pick.

A pair of touchdowns and a long reception. A blowout victory in early January over a hated rivals. A comfort in knowing that he played for an offense that not only could score 24 points in a single half, but one that valued him as its centerpiece.

Alas, it was just a meaningless win for a 6-11 team that will miss the playoffs for the fifth time since Barkley was brought in as the face of the franchise. Barkley finished the season with 962 yards on 247 carries, a 3.9 average, with six touchdowns and a bevy of questions about what his future might hold as he again hits free agency.

“I have no idea,” Barkley said. “I can’t control that, if it is my last game (with the Giants). If it is, it was a fun six years. Made a lot of great memories. But it’s not like the last time I’m ever playing football, you know what I mean?”

Instead, Barkley chose to focus on a teammate who likely was playing for the final time in the NFL. It was receiver Sterling Shepard, and not Barkley, who received the ovation from the crowd in the final minutes of the victory. It was Shepard, who said of his friendship with Barkley that “blood couldn’t make us closer,” who had his Giant send off with a game plan designed to get him the three receptions he needed to climb into fifth place in franchise history.

“He epitomized what it means to be a Giant,” Barkley said. “That’s why you see him get the love that he get from the fans. I have nothing but respect for that guy.”

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) leaps over Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (80) to intercept a pass during the second quarter, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

While this is definitely the end of the road for Shepard and the Giants, it certainly feels that way for Barkley, too. Barkley openly talked about a “fresh start” and a “clean slate” last week, acknowledging that he doesn’t have many other chances to land that lucrative second contract. The Giants, meanwhile, have to know that they are much further from contending than they believed when the season started, and that an expensive running back is a luxury that they do not need.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (24, right) can’t stop New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) from catching a deep pass for a 23-yard gain during the second quarter, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

From those very first days in 2018, the Giants did Barkley no favors. It started with then-GM Dave Gettleman declaring that he was “touched by the hand of God,” putting an unfair level of pressure on him to become a franchise savior at a time when no running back — no single player — could save this team from its prehistoric philosophy and rotting roster.

Barkley was brilliant at times, especially in that rookie season when he had 1,307 rushing yards and 2,028 yards from scrimmage. After that, a combination of a broken offensive line and, all too often, an injured Barkley made it impossible for him to fulfill his potential. For every time Barkley electrified the Meadowlands crowd, it felt like there were 20 more when he ran into an unblocked defensive lineman a nanosecond after taking the handoff. The 2023 season was no different.

New York Giants cornerback Nick McCloud (44) hits Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11), forcing a fumble, during the first quarter, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J. Brown was injured and left the game after this play.

“It’s not what I wanted it to be. Tough year,” Barkley said after rushing for 46 yards in the season finale. “I can sit here and make all the excuses in the world, but that’s not the type of person I am. If you look at the numbers and look at the stats, it may not be what I want it to be. But if you watch film and you actually break down the games, there’s still a lot left in me.”

Barkley can’t control that, so on the final day of the season, he focused on something he could — a sick kid who needed a reason to smile.

Hamish Fenton spent three days with the Giants thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a level of hospitality that stunned his family. He ran out of the tunnel with Barkley, his favorite player, during pregame introductions, but the running back decided even that wasn’t enough.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26), Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat (94) and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) have a laugh after the game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won, 27-10.

He made sure Shepard took a surprised Hamish onto the field with the Giants captain for the opening coin toss — a moment that was not in the script. When Barkley scored his first touchdown of the game, he found Hamish in the stands to hand him the football.

New York Giants defensive coordinator holds up a photo of Keifer Sutherland (Jack Bauer of the television show ’24’) on the back of his play chart during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

“His face is going to be sore for the next five days,” the boy’s father, Mark Fenton, said. “He’s just smiled and smiled and smiled.”

Hamish will have surgery in 10 days. When he goes to the hospital, he’ll have the No. 26 jersey and cleats from his favorite player waiting as a reminder of a happier day. For Barkley, if that day is his last as a member of the Giants, he made one kid feel like he just won the Super Bowl.

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Steve Politi may be reached at [email protected].

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Philadelphia Eagles bench watches as New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) streaks down the sideline after he caught a deep pass for a 46-yard gain during the second quarter, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (left) watches as New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) hauls in a deep pass for a 46-yard gain during the second quarter, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 in East Rutherford, N.J.