Wearing a Joe Namath Jersey? Saquon Barkley's Father Likely to Wear Jets Jersey on Sunday

Saquon Barkley’s father has a dilemma and it may not end up in favor of his son.

Alibay Barkley, father of the New York Giants running back, may not wear his son’s jersey on Sunday. Instead, the lifelong New York Jets fan might be attending this weekend’s game wearing the jersey of one of his favorite players. And there is no blood relation.

The elder Barkley likely isn’t going to root for the Jets to beat the Giants, his son admits, but his father is a die-hard Jets fan. He even has a Jets tattoo.

“No, not to win. To win is for us, but I think what he said, he probably, I think, is going to wear a Jets jersey,” Saquon said Thursday of his father’s rooting interest.

“That’s going to be an interesting one, but I gave it to him because it’s a Joe Namath jersey. I think I got him that jersey actually, the Joe Namath one. But at the end of the day, I knew this situation was going to come up one day, but I’m happy for him. I was a Jets fan growing up, too, so it’s fun. It’s going to be a little fun competition in the Barkley house.”

Last year prior to the NFL Draft, Saquon admitted he’d like to be drafted by the Jets as he grew up a fan of the team. The Giants ended up taking him second overall, one selection ahead of the Jets who took Sam Darnold with their first round pick.

“It’s kind of weird because he has a Jets tattoo, so even if he wears a Saquon Barkley jersey, he’s still repping the Jets,” Saquon said.

“But, if you ever met my dad, you know my dad, he’s been a Jets fan his whole life, so is he going to root for the Jets? Yes, but he’s going to root for the Giants and his son at the same time. So, he gets the best of both worlds. Watch his team that he grew up rooting for and get to watch his son live his dream.”