NEW YORK – Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates are the NFC Players of the Month for games played in the month of November.
OFFENSE: RB SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Barkley led the NFL in rushing yards (626), scrimmage yards (777) and led the NFC in scrimmage touchdowns (six) in November. He registered a career-high 302 scrimmage yards in Week 12 – the ninth-most in a game in NFL history – and 198 scrimmage yards in Week 11, becoming the third player in NFL history with 500 scrimmage yards in a two-game span, along with Pro Football Hall of Famers Walter Payton (1977) and Ollie Matson (1954).
- This is Barkley’s first-career Player of the Month honor. He is the second Eagles running back to earn Offensive Player of the Month, joining LeSean McCoy (December, 2013).
- Barkley is the fifth former Penn State player to earn Offensive Player of the Month, joining Gary Brown (November, 1993), Kerry Collins (December, 2002), Larry Johnson (November & December, 2005) and Curt Warner (October 1986).
DEFENSE: LB JONATHAN GREENARD, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Greenard led the NFC with eight tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed and was the only player in the NFL to record a forced fumble and eight-or-more tackles for loss in November. He has a tackle for loss in seven straight games and was the only NFC player to record a tackle for loss in four games during the month.
- This is Greenard’s first-career Player of the Month honor. He is the fourth Vikings linebacker to earn Defensive Player of the Month, joining Jack Del Rio (September, 1994), Danielle Hunter (October, 2023) and Za’Darius Smith (October, 2022).
- Greenard is the second former University of Florida linebacker to earn Defensive Player of the Month Honors since 2000, joining Mike Peterson (December, 2005).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K JAKE BATES, DETROIT LIONS
- Bates led the NFC with 41 points scored in November, converting on eight of his nine field goal attempts, including all four from 50-or-more yards and made all 17 of his point-after attempts. He was the only player in the NFL to convert four field goals of 50-or-more yards in November.
- This marks the first-career Player of the Month award for Bates, joining Jason Hanson (five-time winner) and Matt Prater (two) as the only Lions kickers to earn the honor.
- Bates becomes the first former University of Arkansas player to win Special Teams Player of the Month and the third to win a Player of the Month award, joining Barry Foster (November, 1992) and Ken Hamlin (September, 2006).
