Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis crowns 'prototype' Saquon Barkley as the 'best running back' in NFL

Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis has high praise for Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley before Super Bowl LIX.

NEW ORLEANS – Jerome Bettis might know a thing or two about success in the backfield.

A two-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl running back, and Super Bowl champion, Bettis was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Saquon Barkley is now well on his way to a gold jacket himself after becoming the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, and because of that historic performance, Bettis said no one is ahead of Barkley at the moment.

"I think Saquon Barkley is the best running back in the NFL right now. He’s special," Bettis said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "He can do everything that you want a running back to do – catch it in the backfield, catch it deep, catch it in the flat, run for a first down, run for power, he can break it anywhere on the field. This guy is the ultimate running back. 

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

"He’s the prototype – if you draw up what a running back should be, it’s Saquon Barkley."

Barkley, of course, was drafted second overall by the New York Giants in 2018. After spending six seasons there, the new regime opted to let him go, and it's been a nightmare for Big Blue ever since.

To rub salt in the wound, Barkley will now suit up for the Birds in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The big game was once "bittersweet" for "The Bus" Shortly after winning his title, he lost his father at the age of 61 to a