Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley Is Proud of His African-American Ethnicity And His South Bronx Roots

January 15, 2026

This article was last updated by Sangita Budhathoki on January 14, 2026

The Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley embraces his African-American ethnicity. The NFL star has been vocal about racial injustice faced by black people throughout the years.

Saquon Barkley was born to parents Alibay Barkley and Tonya Johnson in a difficult neighborhood in the South Bronx.

His family moved out of the Bronx when Saquon was five or six to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 2001 to provide a better environment for their children.

But the football player was back and forth to the Bronx until he reached high school football.

The running back graduated from Whitehall High School and played three years of collegiate football at Penn State.

After being traded to the Eagles, Barkley said that though he didn’t grow up as an Eagles fan, he closely watched the team through the spectator’s eyes.

As he lived in Coplay, Pennsylvania, it only took Barkley ten minutes to travel to Leigh University, where the Eagles held their training camp from 1996 to 2012.

Though there were controversies surrounding Saquon’s move to the Eagles, the running back has been nothing but spectacular this season.

In his first season, Saquon nearly broke the single-season rushing record after totaling 2,005 yards to lead the league.

In Sunday’s 22-10 win over the Packers, Barkley rushed for 119 yards on 25 carries.

With that win, the Eagles moved to the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs, where they will face the winner of the Vikings Vs. the Rams showdown.

The NFL Star Saquon Barkley Talks About His African-American Ethnicity And The Injustice Faced By Them

Saquon Barkley has previously talked about his ethnicity and the racial injustice faced by African Americans.

In a , Barkley said whenever he hears a black man had fallen victim to a police shooting, he ponders how that could’ve been his family member.

In his interview, Barkley recalled the moment he received a phone call from his mother informing him that his father had been mishandled.

His father, Alibay Barkley, was manhandled and stunned by a taser during a 2016 dispute with police over a bus ticket in Pennsylvania.

Later, Alibay and Kotsatos Law firm settled the suit, claiming race was a factor in police using ‘excessive force.’

The NFL star said that, at the time, the officials thought his dad was wrong, but further investigation led to Alibay Barkley being right.

When his mom called him, Saquon was walking to the Lasch Building at Penn State, and after hearing his dad was tased hard, he felt hurt.

The incident inspired Saquon to launch the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation, named after his grandmom.

In 2026, Barkley, through his organization, hosted an annual drive for Children of Promise NYC.

In the video shared by the , Saquon is seen handing out coats to children whose parents were in prison.

Saquon Barkley, With Other NFL Stars, Called Out The League To Take A Stronger Stance Against Racism

In 2026, Saquon Barkley, along with other NFL superstars, including Odell Beckham Jr. and Patrick Mahomes, called the league to take a stronger stance against racism.

The concerns about racism started growing at the time after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day in police custody.

Police officer Derek Chauvin pinned a knee to the back of Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, leading to his death.

Chauvin was fired and charged with second-degree murder. Three other policemen at the scene also faced criminal charges.

In the video, Barkley and other NFL stars said, “On behalf of the NFL, this is what we, the players, would like to hear you state: ‘We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the NFL, admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting. We, the NFL, believe black lives matter.“

✊🏾

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon)

But despite this call-out, the NFL remains far away from addressing racial injustices.

In 2026, NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter sued the league after his contract wasn’t renewed because he publicly challenged Roger Goodell about the league’s poor diversity record.

Trotter revealed that when he asked the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones why the NFL didn’t have more Black people in positions of power, Jones said:

Before the 2026 Presidential election, Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany Mahomes, supported nominee Donald Trump, showcasing where the Mahomes family’s allegiance lie.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Saquon Barkley was previously homeless after his parents, Tonya and Alibay, had to vacate their home due to lack of funds. At the time, Barkley was around six or seven.
• Saquon Barkley has been dating his longtime girlfriend, Anna Congdon, since 2017. The couple has two kids- a daughter, Jada, and a son, Saquon Jr.

• Check other Articles on

Sriyukta Pradhananga is a versatile writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted dimensions of sports. Her articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, engaging storytelling, and thought-provoking commentary that sheds light on the diverse experiences within the athletic realm.

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• Sriyukta keeps abreast of the latest advancements in sports technology.
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With a background in journalism and a passion for sports, Sriyukta approaches each article with a blend of curiosity, rigor, and creativity. She strives to illuminate the complexities and nuances of the sports world, sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring readers to engage more deeply with the athletic endeavors that unite us all.

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