In November of 2019, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley suited up and took on the New York Jets for the first time.
For Barkley and his family, that game carried added significance. After all, they all followed their Father’s lead growing up and were hardcore fans of the Giants’ cross-town rivals.
Barkley’s father even had — and still has — a Jets tattoo.
“Yeah, I definitely can remember that,” Barkley said when asked if he remembers cheering the Jets. “Some people are familiar with my history of being a Jets fan growing up. My dad is a real big Jets fan, having a Jets tattoo. Finally got him to — he’s still rooting for the Jets this game, but he hopes we win this time. So, I got him to say that out of his own mouth two or three days ago. I finally got my father on my side.”
But Barkley doesn’t just want to bring down his favorite childhood team this Sunday to make his father proud. He’s seeking a little redemption after being limited to just a single yard on 13 carries during that first meeting in 2019.
“At that moment, that was probably, before I ever had an ACL (tear) or anything like that, the lowest moment I had as a player,” Barkley said.
Barkley also knows, both from distant and recent history, that the Giants-Jets rivalry is a little bit different. It’s emotionally charged and he expects to feel that from the fans this Sunday.
“There’s definitely a little more something to the game. I felt that last time I played in it, we ended up losing in a really close game, but you could just feel the atmosphere and the fans that were there,” he said.
The Jets have struggled to stop the run this season and the Giants are desperate to go on a winning streak. Odds are, the fate of this game will fall squarely on the shoulders of Barkley, the one-time Gang Green fan.
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