Philadelphia Eagles Star Saquon Barkley Addresses Engagement Backlash: “I Don’t See Color”
Philadelphia — In the wake of his high-profile engagement to longtime girlfriend, model and social media personality Olivia Hart, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has found himself in the center of an unexpected controversy. Fans, pundits, and even celebrity commentators took to social media to debate Barkley’s choice, sparking heated discussions about race, privilege, and public perception.
Speaking candidly during a rare press conference at the Eagles’ training facility, Barkley addressed the backlash head-on.
“I’ve seen the posts. I’ve read the comments. But here’s the truth: I don’t see color,” Barkley said, his voice calm but resolute. “Olivia has been by my side through everything — the good, the bad, and the chaotic moments. My love for her isn’t about race, it’s about the bond we share, the trust, and the life we’re building together.”
The running back’s engagement, which was announced earlier this month with a stunning ring and a heartfelt social media post, quickly went viral. Fans celebrated, but some critics questioned the relationship dynamics, sparking a wave of debates across platforms. The discussion soon extended beyond sports and celebrity circles, touching on broader cultural conversations about relationships, public image, and personal freedom.
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Barkley, who has consistently maintained a reputation as one of the NFL’s most grounded stars, made it clear that he won’t let social media drama overshadow his personal life.
“People will always have opinions. That’s fine,” Barkley continued. “But I know who I am, I know what I value, and I know the woman I’m marrying. Nothing else matters.”
Olivia Hart also spoke briefly during the press conference, emphasizing the couple’s shared commitment and support for one another. “Saquon and I have built something real, something lasting. Social media doesn’t define our love — we do,” she said.
Fans have since rallied around the couple, flooding Barkley’s posts with messages of support and admiration. Hashtags like #SaquonAndOlivia, #TrueLoveInPhilly, and #NoHateJustLove quickly began trending nationwide.
As Barkley prepares for the upcoming NFL season, it’s clear that he won’t let personal attacks derail his focus. The running back’s statement has not only addressed the backlash but also cemented his stance as a leader who speaks with honesty, integrity, and heart — both on and off the field.
One thing is certain: Saquon Barkley’s love life just became as talked-about as his game-day performances, and he’s proving that some battles are fought with courage and conviction, not with controversy.
Packers’ Colby Wooden Fires Back at Critics After Dominant Run Defense Performance
Micah Parsons, a contrarian opinion had taken hold, too–the Packers defense would get chewed up in the running game.Three days before the Packers were to play the Detroit Lions in their 2025 opener, defensive lineman Colby Wooden got a phone call. It was his father. While much attention had been foisted on the Packers in recent days after the stunning trade for pass-rusher
The Packers had to trade away stalwart defensive lineman Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons, and the feeling was, that would be costly in the team’s efforts to handle the run. Detroit, after all, rushed for 2,488 yards last season, sixth in the NFL. Without Clark, surely the Packers would be in trouble.
Wooden, who is helping replace Clark in the middle, took the call from his dad, who said, “Do me a favor, shut ‘em up.”
And he, along with the entire Packers defensive front, did just that, holding the Lions to 46 yards on 22 carries, their lowest rushing output since Week 6 in 2023. Wooden, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks held the line admirably in the middle all day for the Packers.
Colby Wooden: ‘I Took That Personal’
Wooden, for one, was insulted by the questions about the team’s inability to hold against the run.
“I for sure took that personal …” Wooden said. “So I just, did my job, went out there, stopped the run. I took it personal. Honestly, I felt like it was kinda disrespectful, like, ‘Oh, they gonna run the ball.’ So I made it my mission—we, excuse me—we made it our mission to shut them down.”
That’s not easy to do against the combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles.
“We know what they want to do,” Wooden said. “Last year, they wanted to run. They call them Sonic and Knuckles, or whatever. They want to run them 30 times. So we know they want to run that ball. We’ve got to do our job to stop the run so they can get back and let (Parsons) go get them.”
Packers Filling Roles With Micah Parsons on Board
Wooden said the effect of having Parsons on the field was obvious, and it works both ways. When offenses focus on corralling Parsons, the other Packers must step up.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, everybody got a role,” Wooden said. “Everybody’s got to buy into their role. We know what attention and what he comes with. And we know we got to stop that run, go help him out, if he is getting is getting chipped, doubled or whatever, now it’s somebody else’s turn to win their one-on-one.”
Packers Have Commanders Next
And despite the obviously encouraging results, Wooden is not getting ahead of himself. The Commanders will be next on the docket, with fearsome young quarterback Jayden Daniels on hand.
“It’s just one week,” Wooden said. “It’s Week 1. It’s great to start off with a win, dominate. But we’ve got to keep it going. We got a good team coming here on Thursday, we know we got to be ready to stop that run and contain that quarterback. So we just gotta keep going, keep getting better, keep jelling.”
