Savannah Bananas broke out Saquon Barkley's backward hurdle in Philadelphia, but it didn't work as well

Billy Heyen

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Savannah Bananas broke out Saquon Barkley's backward hurdle in Philadelphia, but it didn't work as well image

Maybe the most memorable play of the entire 2024 NFL season was provided by Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley when he hurdled backward over a defender.

The Savannah Bananas were in Philadelphia this weekend, and they tried to pay homage.

The hurdle part went fine, but that wasn't all. It was meant to be part of a pitch to home plate.

And that wasn't as good. It resulted in a hit batter.

Turns out, it's not that easy to throw a strike after jumping backward over another human.

And this was planned.

Barkley's reverse hurdle was a spur of the moment reaction to what was happening on the field as he put together a 2,000-yard season.

The Eagles won the Super Bowl. The Bananas surely won over many new fans in Philadelphia this weekend.

Sports, and the ties that bind us and them, are the best.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle