Saquon Barkley reportedly almost ended up with the Bears in 2024

The 2024 NFL season is one that many Bears fans want to forget, ranging from a change at head coach midseason to a 10-game losing streak. However, what if there was a different person in the back field, taking handoffs from Caleb Williams?
Well, that was almost a possibility. Philadelphia Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley admitted this week that he very nearly decided to come to the Windy City instead of the city of Brotherly Love, according to Patrick Finley of the Sun-Times.
Barkley said at Super Bowl Opening Night down in New Orleans that the deal came “pretty damn close.”
Alas, Barkley ended up joining the Eagles and racked up career and NFL records. Just in the playoffs this season, Barkley has tallied 442 yards and 5 touchdowns.
He also has 7 rushing touchdowns of 60 or more yards, the most in NFL history. He put up 2,005 rushing yards in the regular season – the 8th most in NFL history – and is only 30 yards away from breaking the NFL record for most rushing yards in the regular season and playoffs combined. That record was set in 1998 by Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, who finished with 2,476 yards after Super Bowl XXXII.
Barkley accomplished all of this thanks to the No. 1 offensive line in the league in Philly, showing that the 3-year, $37.75 million contract was worth it.
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Barkley is now on the biggest stage in the NFL, looking to win his first Super Bowl – on his 28th birthday no less.
Meanwhile, the rebuild of the Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson has slowly but surely started. How Johnson will utilize running back D’Andre Swift and build the running back room still remains to be seen.
With Barkley choosing the Eagles, the Bears pivoted last offseason and inked Swift to a 3-year, $24 million deal.
Swift rushed for 959 yards and 6 touchdowns while adding 42 catches for 386 yards in his debut season with the Bears.