Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles running back who rushed for 2,000 yards and won an Offensive Player of the Year Award just one season after the New York Giants declined to pay him, expressed support for Major League Baseball players fighting against a proposed salary cap.

Barkley, described as "one of the faces of the league," acknowledged the challenges athletes face in salary-capped sports like football, where difficult decisions are common. He contrasted this with baseball, which has traditionally been a non-capped sport, allowing contracts as large as $700 million without salary cap casualties.

MLB owners have officially proposed a salary cap for the first time since 1994, a move that has reignited tensions in ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. These talks, involving MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' union executives, aim to save the 2027 season but have revealed a significant divide, with the salary cap being a top priority yet a major point of disagreement.

Barkley stated, "Whatever is best for the players, I’m with that. Whatever is for the players," signaling his alignment with the athletes' fight for fair compensation.

The salary cap issue remains contentious as MLB and its players work through negotiations, with recent events including Manfred speaking at the 2026 All-Star Legacy Veterans Multi-Service Center renovation in Philadelphia on July 13, 2026.

Sources