Eric Dickerson, Hall of Fame member and holder of the NFL single-season rushing record, made it clear he doesn’t want Saquon Barkley, running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, to surpass the 2,105 yards he achieved back in 1984 with the Rams.

“I don’t think he’ll do it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I’m not shy about saying that,” Dickerson said in an interview with NFL Network.

Barkley's golden opportunity

With 1,838 yards this season, Barkley is just 268 yards away from breaking the record and has two games left to make history: against the Dallas Cowboys and his former team, the New York Giants. However, Dickerson emphasized that his record was set during a 16-game season, while Barkley is playing in a 17-game era.

“How many games did it take? 16 to hit it? Well, that’s the game today. First, he has to pass the 2,000-yard mark, which is already a huge accomplishment. If he breaks the record after that, it’ll be incredible,” the former player added.

Dickerson reflected on breaking O.J. Simpson’s record of 2,003 yards, set in just 14 games. “O.J. was my favorite player. He got to over 2,000 yards in 14 games. It took me 15 games to reach 2,000, and then I used my extra game to set the record,” explained Dickerson, who hails from Sealy, Texas.

Kings of the 2,000-yard club

In NFL history, only eight running backs have surpassed the 2,000-yard milestone:

1. Eric Dickerson – 2,105
2. Adrian Peterson – 2,097
3. Jamal Lewis – 2,066
4. Barry Sanders – 2,053
5. Derrick Henry – 2,027
6. Terrell Davis – 2,008
7. Chris Johnson – 2,006
8. O.J. Simpson – 2,003

Even though Dickerson wants to keep his record, he acknowledged Barkley’s greatness: “If he pulls it off, it’ll be an achievement worth celebrating.”