Legendary Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson had a remarkable start to his career, running for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns in just his second NFL season. That 2009 campaign marked only the sixth time in NFL history that a player had run for over 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, and it set a Titans franchise record.
Since then, however, three more NFL players have eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark, and Derrick Henry broke Johnson's franchise record when he ran for 2,027 yards for the Titans in 2020. While Johnson has respect for the game's current running backs, he said on a recent episode of Whistle's "Air it Out" that he believes he could do what Saquon Barkley did in 2024, and then some.
"2,500 rushing yards," said Johnson when asked what his stat line would look like with the 2024 Eagles. "Behind that offensive line, with all them playmakers, I would go crazy."
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Johnson enjoyed a successful nine-year career in the NFL in which he was selected to three straight Pro Bowls, was named a First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press, and was a finalist at one point for every major NFL award. However, Johnson's comments could indicate that he wishes he would have done more with his time in the league.
Barkley is on the cusp of winning his first Super Bowl in just his sixth full season in the NFL, whereas Johnson never made it past the Divisional Round with the Titans. In fact, Tennessee only made the playoffs one time, during Johnson's rookie season in 2008, and he did not make it back to the postseason until 2015 with the Arizona Cardinals.
During Johnson's 2,000-yard campaign, the Titans could only manage an 8-8 record, whereas Barkley's historic year has his team positioned to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Not all 2,000-yard seasons are created equally, and Titans legend Johnson is well aware of that.
