Eagles Bring Back RB Miles Sanders to Play Behind Barkley—Just Like Old Times at Penn State

Philadelphia, PA – March 11, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles are turning back the clock, reuniting two Penn State legends in their backfield. The team has signed running back Miles Sanders to a one-year deal, bringing him back to Philly to play behind Saquon Barkley—echoing their days as a dynamic duo with the Nittany Lions. It’s a homecoming that’s got Eagles fans buzzing about a nostalgic one-two punch.

Sanders, 27, returns after two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he struggled to replicate his 2022 Pro Bowl form (1,269 yards, 11 TDs) with the Eagles. Cut by Carolina this offseason after a lackluster 2024 (assume 512 yards, 3 TDs), the former second-round pick now slots in as Barkley’s backup. Barkley, fresh off a historic 2,005-yard, Super Bowl LIX-winning season, welcomed the move on X: “Boobie’s back. Let’s run it like PSU.”

At Penn State, Sanders bided his time behind Barkley, rushing for 1,274 yards in 2018 after Barkley’s departure. Now, with Barkley locked in as RB1 on a $41.2 million extension, Sanders brings depth and familiarity to an Eagles offense that ranked eighth in rushing last year. “It’s like 2016 all over again,” Sanders said. “I know my role—support Saquon and be ready when my number’s called.”

For GM Howie Roseman, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move. With Kenneth Gainwell hitting free agency and no clear RB2, Sanders’ veteran presence (3,708 career yards) fills a gap at a bargain price. If he regains his 2022 spark, Philly’s ground game could be downright scary. For now, it’s a Penn State reunion at the Linc—and fans are ready to see these two rewrite history in midnight green.