Saquon Barkley discusses those ‘random’ drug tests and why he chose Philly ahead of Super Bowl debut

The latest episode of the Big Play Slay podcast had a different feel than others. With the Eagles on the cusp of another Super Bowl appearance in New Orleans, the cornerback filmed an in-person episode for fans, which included a very special guest: Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, the two talked about the origins of Barkley’s “swim” touchdown celebration, his random drug tests, and his first season in Philadelphia.

Here’s everything you missed …

There’s no doubt that Barkley has freakish God-given abilities, and it’s not hard to see whether he’s breaking away for long touchdown runs or performing an acrobatic reverse hurdle.

Barkley previously revealed that he was drug tested right after the Eagles’ 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he ran through one tackle, spun around another and then hurdled a player … backward. Now, drug tests seem to be part of Barkley’s normal routine.

“I’ve had too many,” Barkley told Slay on his podcast. “I’ve had too many drug tests, to be honest. I’m not one of those guys that’s going to take a picture of my drug tests and be like ‘Look they’re drug testing me.’ I think people that do that are just trying to get clicks.

“For me personally, I don’t subscribe to that, but I have been drug tested way too many times and I don’t think — it’s random but anytime you make a big play, or you have a big game you just happen to get tested. Only thing that took it away was I got tested the last week against the Giants and we didn’t play. So, then that’s when I was like, ‘Oh, it’s truly random.’”

A week before sitting out that last game against the Giants, Barkley became the ninth player to log at least 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, finishing just 101 yards from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105. He also set a franchise single-season rushing record. Not bad for a first act with his new team. Along with these accolades, Barkley is on his way to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.

But this is all something the running back expected when he decided to sign with the Eagles.

“It was a big reason why I wanted to come here to be around guys like you, Lane [Johnson], BG [Brandon Graham]. I played you guys for so long, so I knew the type of culture you guys had,” Barkley told Slay. “I think I wanted to be here to expand my legacy. I felt like that, obviously I was drafted very high. The things that were said about me — it wasn’t the fact that they were said about me — it was what I believe. I felt like I could be a special player. I felt like I could be one of the best running backs to ever play.

“That’s why I came here, this was a spot — I remember talking to [my fiancée Anna Congdon], my mom, and my dad and I was like, I can come here, we can play in big games, I can show the world who Saquon Barkley really is. And that was the goal in mind and I’m just happy that I’m able to do that and I love it, because as I’m getting all this praise, it also shows you — where I think we’re getting lost in football — that it takes everybody.”

After his 78-yard touchdown run through the snow against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional-round of the playoffs, fans could see Barkley wildly waving his hands around in circles after the score. The running back said it is his favorite touchdown celebration because it dates back to his time as a Nittany Lion.

“It’s like a little swim,” Barkley said. “I love it because it’s just literally me being a kid and having fun. I did it in the beginning of my career in New York, I haven’t really done it yet here until that game [against Los Angeles].

“And when I made that run and I was just hitting myself on the helmet, I remember just being like taking in the atmosphere and it brought me back to when I was in college. And that’s when I started doing it. It made me feel like I was back at Penn State. So, I was just like, ‘Come on!’ and started doing my little thing.”

After Barkley left college, opponents started using his celebration to troll the Nittany Lions, including Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. after defeating Penn State 20-12 in 2023.

“I had to stop because when I left Penn State, teams that would beat Penn State — like Ohio State — they would score a touchdown and then start doing it,” Barkley said. “I’m like, I’m not even there no more. Last one I saw do it was Marvin Harrison, but at least he’s fire though.”

Will Barkley break it out again on Sunday? He’s scored at least two touchdowns in each of the Eagles’ last two games, so he could have a chance.