In the Eagles’ NFC wild-card game at home against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Barkley could rush for a ton of yards and score touchdowns, but the way he motivates teammates in the most challenging part of the game could be just as important.

"Comfortable in the spotlight, earnest in his interactions, Barkley quickly became a mentor to the team’s young core and an ally to its proven pillars," Kubena explained. "Barkley, an avid golfer, organized outings to bond with dozens of players. ...[and] became an encourager within an organization that places a high value on player mentorship."