Saquon Barkley returned to to haunt the New York Giants with a first-half touchdown on his return to MetLife Stadium.

Once a fan-favourite in New York, the running back stepped onto the field Sunday afternoon dressed in opposition colours.

Barkley returned to haunt the Giants at MetLife Stadium

Barkley found limited first quarter success for the Philadelphia Eagles, but broke out before half-time.

He scored the opening touchdown of the game, fighting his way into the endzone to finsh a drive that also featured a 55-yard run.

The Eagles took a 14-3 lead into half-time, leaning on Barkley early as quarterback Jalen Hurts grew into the game.

No doubt it was a painful watch for fans in New York, but it didn’t have to be this way.

The Giants took Barkley as the second overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, he rushed for an impressive 11 touchdowns and 1,307 yards en route to being named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Production dipped in the years that followed, there’s no doubt about that, with a knee injury – later diagnosed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament – ending his 2020 season after just two games.

But Barkley battled back and in 2022 went to the Pro Bowl for the second time, with the future looking bright for the face of the Giants franchise.

Fast-forward 18 months, though, and Barkley was lacing up his boots for the Eagles.

The running back’s decision to swap New York for Philadelphia as a free agent in March prompted an outcry. For Barkley, though, it was just business.

Barkley scored a first-half touchdown against the Giants

He received several million dollars more in guaranteed money – $26 million in total – than the Giants offered during almost two years of negotiations, dating back to the bye week during the 2022 season.

According to reports, he was never officially offered a new contract by Giants general manager Joe Schoen this past offseason.

The Barkley story was well documented in stunning behind-the-scenes footage from Hard Knocks, which revealed that Giants CEO and president John Mara was still clinging to the thought that the team could find some way to keep their star in New York.

“In a perfect world, I’d still like to have him back,” Mara told Schoen.

“I am going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly, as I told you, I am just being honest.

“I have been around enough players. He is the most popular player we have by far.”

By the time he returned to MetLife Stadium in Week 7, Barkley was no longer the most popular man in the building.

Not that he’ll care too much, with 85 yards and a touchdown in an explosive first-half performance.

Saquon Barkley is enjoying life as an Eagle

Barkely’s performance caught the eye of fans, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts on his return to New York.

“Saquon Barkley currently has more TDs in MetLife Stadium this season than Daniel Jones,” one wrote.

“He took the boos personal,” another said.

A third wrote: “Saquon Barkley is having a Terrell Owens like revenge game against the Giants.”

Legendary Eagle Jason Kelce, meanwhile, shared his thoughts on where the blame lies for the running back’s move to Philly.

“For the life of me, I don’t understand why Giants fans hate Saquon for what happened, and not the Giants organization for the fact he is an Eagle,” he posted on X.

“They have absolutely no one to blame other than the Giants ownership and management decisions for why he is no longer a Giant.

Twitter: @JasonKelce

“Obviously understand their hate of the Eagles, and desire for him not to succeed, just very odd this energy is directed at him more so than the organization.”

Kelce was questioned by another fan who said there would be no hate directed toward him if he had not joined a rival NFC East team.

“I 100% understand why fans hate he’s an Eagle, and why there are Boos,” he added.

“I mean I played in Philadelphia, babies are born here booing instead of crying. Just feels like from the beginning of this whole thing the hate has been directed at him, when the organization is the one that messed this entire thing up.

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