Tiki Barber takes dig at Saquon Barkley’s Giants legacy in war of words: ‘Do I need to answer that?’
Tiki Barber wasn’t going to let Saquon Barkley have the last word.
Shortly after Barkley, 27, hit back at Barber, 48, over the latter’s “dead to us” jab on Monday in the wake of the former first-round pick signing with the Giants’ rival Eagles in NFL free agency, the retired running back elaborated on his remarks, noting it was “tongue in cheek.”
“I’ve been retired for 17 years, 18 years. I am now in the media,” Barber said on his WFAN show after Barkley responded. “The fact that my emotional reaction responding to you going to the Philadelphia Eagles, which is, by the way, the voice of a lot of Giants fans, I’d say the majority of Giants fans, and you’re going to come back and talk about something from 17 years ago that you don’t even understand or are misrepresenting? That’s fine, be that way then. I like Saquon Barkley. By the way, saying dead to me was basically tongue in cheek, but it is what it is. Get offended.”
Barkley revealed Monday he would be starting a new chapter with the Eagles, who agreed to a three-year deal worth $37.75 million with the star running back following six seasons with the Giants.
Barber, a “Giant for life” who spent all 10 years of his NFL career in New York, said earlier in the day Monday, “He’s dead to us now. You’re dead to us, Saquon.”
The comments made the rounds on social media, with Barkley subsequently firing off two messages to Barber on X.
“@TikiBarber lol yup you’re the prime example of loyalty to a team.. I got the deal I wanted, secured more gm which wasn’t given to me before… so if fans are gonna hate me for that so be it! But I never turned my back on my teammates and always had theirs,” Barkley posted in one message.
He then followed up with, “You been a hater since I got to New York … and all the “Dead to me” talk don’t smile in my face when you see me.”
Though the “hater” comment baffled Barber — “I don’t even know what he’s talking about,” he took a more definitive stance when co-host Evan Roberts asked him, “Do you think your legacy with the New York Giants is better than Saquon Barkley’s?”
“Do I need to answer that?” Barber replied.
Barber rushed for 10,449 yards on 2,217 carries for 55 touchdowns throughout his career while also tallying 586 receptions for 5,183 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in 2010, four years after calling it a career, which originally began in 1997.
As for Barkley, the Giants’ second-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he rushed for 5,211 yards on 1,201 carries for 12 touchdowns through the first six years of his career.
Through 14 games this season, Barkley — who missed time due to an ankle injury — amassed 962 yards on 247 carries for six touchdowns while adding 280 receiving yards for four scores.
“Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past 6 years… forever grateful!” Barkley expressed Monday afternoon on X. “Excited for the next chapter.”
The Eagles finished last season at 11-6 after collapsing down the stretch following a 10-1 start. They were crushed by the Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs in January, 32-9.
Barkley reached the postseason just once with the Giants before they were demolished by the Eagles in the divisional round en route to a Super Bowl berth in 2023.