Barkley Champions NFL's Global Push While Backing Traditional TV Access
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has partnered with satellite television provider DIRECTV ahead of his ninth NFL season, aligning his public profile with a campaign that frames the sport's fragmented streaming landscape as an obstacle fans must now actively navigate. Barkley, who won Super Bowl LIX with Philadelphia in February 2025 and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season, said his priority is straightforward: getting as many people watching football as possible.
"The more eyes you can get on it, the better it's going to be," Barkley told Fox News Digital. "It's really kind of crazy that football is probably the biggest sport, and we really haven't even scratched the surface yet." The promotional spot he recorded for the campaign uses his well-known hurdle - a signature move from his playing career - as a visual metaphor for the hoops fans must clear across multiple platforms to find a game. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has separately flagged the issue at a legislative level, stating that lawmakers are scrutinizing NFL streaming costs and examining whether current arrangements comply with the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, with some consumers reportedly facing cumulative expenses to access games across platforms. futsal betting sites
Barkley's advocacy for broad viewership runs parallel to the NFL's own international expansion strategy. His first game as an Eagle was played in São Paulo, Brazil, in September 2024 - the league's first regular-season game on South American soil. Philadelphia is scheduled to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London during Week 5 of the 2025 season. The league has staged regular-season games in London annually since 2007 and has expanded its international series to Germany and Brazil in recent seasons.
Now entering his ninth season, Barkley - selected second overall by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft before signing with Philadelphia ahead of the 2024 season - said he intends to play as long as his health and contracts allow. He cited his young son's early interest in the sport as part of what drives him. "I'm living my dream," he said. "As long as God keeps me healthy, and they keep giving me contracts and opportunities, I'll try to play as long as I can." The Eagles open their 2025 regular season at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
