"Saquon" unpacks the NFL player's journey both on and off the field
- The Real Perspectives
- Oct 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 2
Reel Perspectives
October 11, 2025
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl champion and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is undoubtedly a star however his road to stardom was not paved in gold but was filled with challenges and setbacks for the young superstar. The new documentary from Prime Video titled "Saquon" that premiered on October 9 unpacks his five-year journey, covering his ACL recovery as well as the highs and lows he experienced upon his return, which ultimately led to his victory as a Super Bowl Champion on his birthday.
Executive produced by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and directed by Alexander Pappas, "Saquon" chronicles Barkley's first season in Philadelphia while reflecting on his five years in the NFL through personal video diaries he recorded. From Whitehall High School, to three years at Penn State University, to being drafted by the Giants in 2018 where he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, to his championship run with the Eagles.
Over the last five years, Barkley collaborated with a camera crew to compile hundreds of hours of footage across 127 days of filming, which started on the day of Barkley's ACL surgery in late 2020 and continued through his entire first season with the Eagles.
Showcasing both his resilience through injury and contract disputes, the 102-minute documentary navigates his career's most challenging chapters: methodically battling back from ACL surgery with the same explosive power that defines his playing style, while enduring tense contract negotiations with the team that drafted him, ultimately leading him to a bitter division rival. Per the official synopsis, the heart of this film beats strongest away from the stadium, where Saquon's identity as a father, husband, and friend reveals a man whose priorities transcend yardage and contracts.
Ahead of the documentary's release, Saquon shared, "I'm excited for the doc to come out. I think it's a cool view on my life," Barkley said at the NovaCare Complex. "It started when I tore my knee up until winning the Super Bowl last year. It goes through the ups and the downs, battling adversity, the business side of it. I think it shows the human side of me, the frustration, stuff I handled right, some stuff I didn't handle right.
"My most important thing I wanted people to take from this, especially kids, is that there's adversity that's going to happen in your life. But it's how you respond. I show that in those moments. But it's not meant to make me look like some superhero..."
"Saquon" beautifully uncovers the incredible journey of Barkley and peels back the layers to reveal an inspiring man behind the stardom. This insightful documentary offers context and provides a new appreciation for his incredible journey both on and off the field.
"Saquon" is streaming now on Prime Video.
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