So, picture this: it’s Sunday afternoon, the Eagles are steamrolling their way through another game, and Saquon Barkley does something only nine other running backs in NFL history have ever done. He crosses the 2,000-yard mark for the season. Legendary, right? But as the sports world erupted in stats and cheers, Anna Congdon, Barkley’s longtime girlfriend, dropped a simple, heartfelt Instagram Story that somehow managed to outshine it all.
“You outshine the morning sun,” she wrote, alongside a photo of Barkley mid-game.
Cue the collective “Awww” heard ’round the internet.
Look, we already knew Saquon Barkley was having an insane season. Thirty-one carries. 167 yards. A monster 23-yard run in the fourth quarter to hit the milestone. And oh yeah, this was against the Cowboys, no less—Big Blue’s eternal nemesis. (Bet that stings for Giants fans, huh?) But while Barkley was making history on the field, Congdon was making hearts melt off it.
The Story Behind the Stat
Barkley isn’t new to jaw-dropping numbers. He spent six standout years with the Giants before joining the Eagles this past March in a free-agency move that had New York fans somewhere between stunned and sobbing. In Philly, though, Barkley has only upped the ante. Thirteen rushing touchdowns. Two receiving scores. And now, a shot at Eric Dickerson’s 2,105-yard record with just one game left in the season.
But back to Anna. Her tribute wasn’t just cute; it was a reminder of the person behind the player. Barkley’s meteoric rise—from a Penn State prodigy to a headline-stealing MVP candidate—has been rooted in the support of Congdon, who’s been by his side since the college days. If anyone’s earned the right to be his No. 1 fan, it’s her.
The Big Question: To Play or Not to Play
With the Eagles clinching the NFC East title on Sunday, the million-dollar question is whether head coach Nick Sirianni will play Barkley in the regular-season finale against—wait for it—the Giants. The irony is so thick, you could cut it with a butter knife.
And Barkley? He’s as chill as ever. “Whatever his decision is, I’m all for it,” he said postgame. Classic Saquon. Always the team guy.
More Than Just Numbers
While analysts debate Barkley’s MVP chances and fans argue over whether Philly should risk him in Week 18, Congdon’s post serves as a subtle reminder: the milestones are great, but the man behind them is even better.
“You outshine the morning sun.” Simple. Poetic. And somehow more meaningful than any stat line or highlight reel.
Because let’s face it—NFL stars are cool, but NFL stars with girlfriends who pen swoon-worthy Instagram tributes? That’s next-level.
And in a season full of big wins and bigger records, maybe the real MVP is the one behind the screen, cheering louder than anyone else.