“I’m going to keep it a buck. It can go viral. You can say whatever you want to say. Saquon Barkley would have had a rough day, and I love him as a running back.” That fiery quote from ex-NFLer-turned-analyst Keyshawn Johnson lit up the airwaves this week, but it wasn’t about his Cowboys glory days. Nope! This time, the Hall of Famer took aim at a fresh Super Bowl champ whose confidence is soaring higher than an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary pass.

Picture the swagger of the ’85 Bears, the perfection of the ’72 Dolphins, or the grit of the Steel Curtain Steelers. Now imagine a modern star claiming his squad belongs in that pantheon. It’s like slapping ketchup on a Philly cheesesteak—bold, divisive, and guaranteed to stir the pot. But when you’ve just hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, maybe a little bravado comes with the territory.

Saquon Barkley dropped a grenade on NFL history debates during his Exciting Mics podcast appearance. “I think we were a top-five team of all time,” the Eagles running back declared, referencing Philly’s 18-win 2024 season. But Cowboys legend Keyshawn Johnson wasn’t having it. “Buddy, nah… They’re not one of the top five teams in the history of the National Football League,” he fired back on SPEAK. “Saquon Barkley has seven yards against our defense [the 2002 Bucs]… Saquon Barkley would have had a rough day.” The stats?

Barkley’s Eagles tied the ’84 49ers, ’85 Bears, and ’07 Patriots with 18 total wins. Their offense shattered playoff scoring records, and their defense stifled Patrick Mahomes until garbage time in the Super Bowl. But Keyshawn’s point cuts deeper: “When you start breaking it down historically. They’re not there yet. They got to win a couple more.” Meanwhile, Barkley’s argument hinges on dominance.

After a 2-2 start, Philly outscored opponents by 13 points per game post-bye week. Their defense allowed fewer yards than the ’85 Bears’ infamous unit, and Barkley racked up 1,570 rushing yards in that stretch. “If you really look at the season outside the first four games, it was belt to a–,” he said. But history’s harsh.

The ’72 Dolphins went undefeated. The ’85 Bears allowed 10 total points in three playoff games. The ’78 Steelers had 10 Hall of Famers. As Joy Taylor noted, “This team wasn’t even favored going into the playoffs in the NFC.” Even Keyshawn’s 2002 Bucs—a squad Barkley name-dropped—held opponents to 12 points per game with five Hall of Fame defenders.

Saquon Barkley’s big claim: Legacy or recency bias?

Barkley’s pride is understandable. He’s fresh off a 2,504-yard rushing season (playoffs included) and a ring. Crushing the Chiefs‘ three-peat dreams as a bonus. But crowning a team “all-time great” requires more than one dominant year. Consider:

• The ’92 Cowboys won three titles in four years.

• The ’99 Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” revolutionized offense.

• The ’04 Patriots defined dynasty resilience.

Philly’s 2024 run was spectacular, but as Paul Pierce argued, “You can’t really make all-time comparisons right now when you have too much unfinished business.” Even Joy Taylor conceded, “And maybe we will look back on this team when we talk about beating the Chiefs… but I just think it’s too close to say top five all time in the history of the NFL.” Besides, Saquon Barkley’s claim is less about arrogance than passion.

He’s defending a brotherhood that defied doubters, even if historians need receipts. Keyshawn’s rebuttal? A reminder that NFL greatness isn’t decided in a single postgame locker room. It’s etched by time, trophies, and the weight of legends. As Barkley himself admitted, “I really think when we look back on it in 10 to 15 years, and we’re all old and we’re reflecting on our glory days—hopefully next year, the year we’re in right now—but the year that we had last year, people don’t give us enough credit.”

Until the next Super Bowl, the debate rages like a tailgate grill. After all, what’s football without a little smoke? “The journey is the reward,” said Steve Jobs. But in the NFL, the destination defines immortality.