celebrity families

Saquon Barkley's Family Life: A look at the football star as a husband and dad

With a Super Bowl win under his belt after joining the Eagles in 2024, he's got plenty to celebrate both professionally and personally

Senior Writer

FEBRUARY 11, 2025 5:19 PM ESTFEB 11, 2025, 5:19 PM EST

Saquon Barkley is more than just a powerhouse on the field. Off the turf, he's a devoted family man, sharing his life with fiancée Anna Congdon and their two children, daughter Jada and son Saquon Jr. (aka S.J.). And with a Super Bowl win now under his belt after joining the Eagles in 2024, he's got plenty to celebrate both professionally and personally.

Meeting Anna and Becoming a Dad

Barkley and Congdon met at Penn State University, and their love story has been going strong ever since. They welcomed their first child, Jada, in April 2018—just two days before he was drafted second overall by the New York Giants. Talk about a life-changing week.

The athlete completed his degree in May 2022 to set an example for his kids. "I also thought it would be good to get my degree to set an example for my siblings and my family," he explained. "I want my kids to be goal setters and whatever they want to accomplish, they can do it if they put their mind to it. I would love for them to one day say, 'I want to accomplish this and actually see it come to fruition.'"

Fast-forward to September 2022, their family grew with the arrival of their son, Saquon Jr. Shortly after S.J.'s birth, Barkley gushed about his "beautiful baby" and how Jada had already stepped into the role of a doting big sister.

Fatherhood: Saquon's Ultimate Motivation

Barkley has always been vocal about how much his kids inspire him. Shortly after Jada was born, he called it an "honor and blessing" to be her father, emphasizing that he wanted to set a strong example for her.

“I go out there and sacrifice my body every single day for my daughter,” he told NJ Advance Media in 2019. And it’s not just about football—he applies the same mindset to business decisions, endorsements, and investments, always thinking about his family's future.

Jada and S.J. Cheering on Their Dad

If there's one thing Barkley's kids have mastered, it's supporting their dad from the sidelines. Jada, in particular, has been a fixture at games for years, stealing the show with adorable moments like her secret handshake with Saquon before the NFC Championship in 2025.

And when the Eagles clinched their Super Bowl victory? Jada was right there to celebrate. In a video shared by the NFL, she could be seen in her dad's arms telling him, "Congratulations, you're my favorite!" Talk about a proud dad moment.

Parenting Styles: Tough Love vs. Soft Spot

During Super Bowl weekend in 2024, Barkley admitted to Overtime that he's fallen into the classic parenting stereotype, being a little softer with Jada while expecting S.J. to toughen up. “If Jada falls, I’m there to comfort her. If S.J. falls, I’m looking at him like, ‘Get up,’” he confessed. “I gotta do better in that area.”

Despite his playful self-criticism, Barkley is all about being the best dad he can be. Whether it's finishing his college degree in 2022 to set an example for his kids or making sure they're by his side for his biggest career moments, he's proving that family comes first on and off the field.