In our latest locker room Q&A, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley explains his love for thinking games.

Each week during the 2025 season, we’re going through the Eagles media guide to find an interesting nugget.

The Eagles’ PR staff does a great job filling out these little oddities in the media guide and they serve as a good way to meet the players behind the helmets.

This week we chatted with running back Saquon Barkley, whose bio says he’s surprisingly good at Connect Four.

Me: It says you’re surprisingly good at Connect Four. Is that true?

Barkley: I guess. I haven’t played Connect Four in, like, a long time. But when I used to play Connect Four, I was pretty good at it.

Me: I know you have a daughter. What’s the board game at the house right now? Is there one?

Barkley: I’ve been teaching my daughter how to play Genius Square right now.

Me: What’s that?

Barkley: It’s like a game where you basically think of Bingo and put cubes in a spot and then you have to fill the board up with the pieces that they give you.

Me: That’s fun. Is she good at it?

Barkley: Yeah, she’s pretty good.

Me: How about growing up? Was there a game you always played with your family?

Barkley: Ummm, I couldn’t tell you there was one game. But all of the regular games that kids play. Not just one.

Me: With Connect Four, big strategy guy?

Barkley: I like strategy games.

Me: Are you a chess player?

Barkley: I love chess.

Me: Do you play a lot in season still?

Barkley: I just play on my phone. I have an account and I go in and play against people. I like that a lot.

Me: I know there’s some chess players in here (locker room). Do you play against anyone in here?

Barkley: Yeah, I played against a couple. Braden (Mann) is the only one that has beaten me. I don’t know if there are any legit chess players in here. But I learned it before with my dad and then I started playing the game in New York with Tibs (Kayvon Thibodeaux) and Adoree’ (Jackson). 

Me: Is it something that just gets you …

Barkley: I like thinking. I think when, say if I’m traveling, rather just going on IG or Twitter.

Me: That’s good. The trap is doing mindless stuff. So you’re able to keep thinking a bit.

Barkley: Mmhmm.

Me: Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

Barkley: No problem.