Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley Shares the Backstory Behind the Adorable Pregame Ritual He Does with His 2 Kids

Mar. 15, 2025

Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after the game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Photo:Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty

Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty

Philadelphia Eagles’Saquon Barkley’s two kids are his favorite good luck charms.

The Eagles running back, 27, who shares son Saquon Jr., 2, and daughter, Jada, 6, with fiancéeAnna Congdon, has a pregame handshake ritual with his children. Both his son and daughter have separate handshakes, and while speaking to media, including PEOPLE, during Super Bowl week press conferences, Barkley shared how they came up with rituals.

“Me and my daughter have had a handshake for a very long time,” he shared. “It’s just, when you’re winning games or you’re playing well, cameras are always on you, so that’s where that one comes from.”

“And then I got a new one with my son who’s 2,” he added. “Have you ever seen [Disney’sFinding Nemo], and when [they] do like the fin, noggin, dude? That’s [where our] shake comes from.”

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aquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with his family after the games against Washington Commanders.Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty

On Sunday, Jan. 26, just before the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against theWashington Commandersin the NFC Championship Game and secured their spot in the 2025 Super Bowl, the NFL on Fox X account shared footage of Barkley doing his special handshakes with his children.

In an adorablevideo, Barkley’schildrenand Congdon could be seen next to him on the sidelines. The athlete asked Jada to “gimme a handshake,” before the pair launched into the prepared sequence, complete with kisses on each cheek and a peace sign.

“Love you, Daddy!” she can be heard telling the running back.

Saquon Barkley, Jada Clare Barkley and Anna Congdon.Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

Barkley has always been candid about his love for his family. Six months after Jada was born, she made an appearance on the field at one of her dad’s New York Giants games. Congdon carried Jada in a front pack as thefamily of three posed for photosin the stadium.

The athlete has also shared in an interview that his children have inspired his football career. In June 2019 (before Saquon Jr.’s birth), he toldNJ Advance Mediathat he considers his daughter in every decision he makes.

“Obviously I do it for myself because I love the game, I love competing and I want to go down as one of the best [in NFL history], but I go out there and sacrifice my body every single day for my daughter," he said. “Every business decision I make, every investment, every marketing deal, all have to come with the mindset of my daughter being first.”

source: people.com