The 2024 NFL season is now at its midpoint, and Philadelphia Eagles fans are reveling in the continued standout performance of running back Saquon Barkley.
The Eagles’ recent 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was punctuated by a jaw-dropping play from Barkley that even NBA superstar LeBron James couldn’t help but celebrate.
Philadelphia Eagles Saquon Barkley makes an out of this world backwards hurdle that makes defenders look silly
LeBron praises Saquon Barkley
Barkley made waves on the field wearing a custom pair of “Metallic Silver” Nike LeBron IV Menace 3 cleats, designed as a football adaptation of James’ signature basketball shoes.
Midway through the game, Barkley caught a pass from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and, after an acrobatic spin move, found himself facing Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones.
With his back to Jones, Barkley pulled off a remarkable backward hurdle over the defender, advancing the Eagles downfield and leaving fans – and teammates – stunned.
LeBron James quickly shared his enthusiasm for Barkley’s play, posting a snapshot of the leap to his Instagram Stories.
“Must be the shoes!!…@saquon you’re insane!!”James wrote, invoking the iconic phrase from Nike’s famous 1989 Spike Lee-directed commercials for Michael Jordan’s footwear.
LeBron, a shoe icon also in the NFL
Though known as a basketball icon, LeBron’s influence in the NFL is felt through his Nike partnerships, which have delivered exclusive cleats to a select group of NFL stars, including Barkley.
“Metallic Silver” is just one of several special colorways James has released, with players like New York Jets’ Breece Hall and Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase also adopting the cleats as a staple in their game-day looks.
For Barkley, who rushed for 159 yards and scored a touchdown in the Eagles’ Sunday victory, the custom cleats are a natural fit.
A well-known sneaker enthusiast, he previously sported LeBron-inspired footwear in last season’s playoffs, where he dominated with Nike Zoom Generation cleats that paid homage to James’ first signature shoe.
NFL fans and sneakerheads alike can expect more memorable on-field moments from Barkley fueling Philadelphia’s success and drawing fans’ attention to the creative ways athletes like him celebrate their favorite brands on the field.
