Saquon Barkley, the star running back for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, has turned down an invitation to join President Donald Trump’s revamped Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The council is part of a new executive order that also brings back the once-prominent Presidential Fitness Test for children in U.S. schools.
Barkley was listed among a group of high-profile sports figures invited to join the council, including professional golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque, NFL legend Lawrence Taylor, and former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera.
Speaking after Eagles practice on Monday, Barkley clarified that he had already declined the offer.
“A couple months ago, it came to my team’s attention,” Barkley said. “I wasn’t very familiar with the council, and with how busy things are for me and my family, we thought it was best not to accept it. I was definitely surprised when my name came up. I’m sure it’s a great initiative, so I appreciate it—but yeah, I was a little shocked.”
The Presidential Fitness Test, originally launched in 1966, was a long-standing measure of school-aged children’s physical fitness, involving mile runs, sit-ups, and flexibility tests. It had been gradually phased out during the Obama administration but is now being reintroduced. Trump called it “a wonderful tradition” and emphasized its return as part of his focus on youth health and athleticism.
The executive order also revitalized the broader national sports council, which Barkley was considered for.
Barkley earned major accolades last season, being named Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,005 yards—ranking eighth all-time for a single season—in his debut year with the Eagles.
The running back has maintained a bipartisan public presence, having played golf with both President Trump and former President Barack Obama in the past year. Barkley was also present at the White House celebration honoring the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, a ceremony some teammates, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, chose not to attend.
In April, Barkley visited Trump at his Bedminster golf club and accompanied the president on Air Force One to Washington, later transferring to Marine One for the flight to the White House.
“He loved it,” Trump remarked about the trip. “He’s a great young guy and an incredible football player. Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL.”
Following the visit, Barkley faced some backlash on social media, but he addressed the criticism directly. Highlighting that he had also golfed with Obama, Barkley posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand.”
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