Before the Philadelphia Eagles took the field against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 23, running back Saquon Barkley gave one young fan a memory he’ll never forget. Seventeen-year-old Nate, a devoted supporter from Austin, Texas, met his favorite player after a long and difficult medical journey.
@philadelphiaeagles Stay strong, Nate 💚 #eagles #nfl #saquonbarkley
♬ Little Things – Adrián Berenguer
Nate has been battling a rare bone cancer that required the removal of half his pelvis in 2022. The Eagles, in a TikTok video, shared that he “fought to learn how to walk again.” Recently, his family received the devastating news that the cancer has continued to spread.
Despite everything he’s faced, Nate lit up when Barkley walked over to meet him on the sideline. As the running back signed his jersey, the teen told him, “I’ve been watching you since you were in college. You’re my favorite person of all time.” Barkley spent time talking with him and posed for photos before the game began.
Moments like this are part of what has endeared Saquon to fans well beyond Philadelphia. His on-field talent may grab headlines, but his quiet acts of kindness often tell the fuller story. After the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2025, Saquon made headlines for something other than football.
During the victory parade, he spotted the team’s ball boy stuck behind a barricade. Instead of walking past, he reached over, grabbed him, and pulled him into the celebration. Fans loved it. This is a nod to just the kind of guy he is.
For Nate, the chance to meet Saquon carried that same energy. It gave him a lift in a year filled with doctors, treatments, and hard news. A few minutes on the sideline became a moment he’ll hold onto forever.
Shaquon shares two children with is fiance, Anna Congdon. The couple share a son, Saquon Jr. and a daughter, Jada.
