Nationwide — Super Bowl weekend has taken an unexpected turn just days before the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs face off at the Superdome in New Orleans. Resurfaced tweets from 2012 and 2013 have put the spotlight on Anna Congdon, the fiancée of star running back Saquon Barkley, after social media users uncovered past posts containing racist language, including repeated use of the N-word.
According to The Root, screenshots of the tweets reveal that Congdon, who is white, engaged in controversial online conversations, including one where she participated in a hashtag game, writing, “#ReplaceADisneyMovieWithNa The Cheeta Na.” In another instance, she quoted Kanye West’s 2005 hit “Gold Digger,” responding to a post with, “She ain’t messin’ with no broke n**s.” She later repeated a similar line from the song, further fueling criticism. In yet another post, she wrote, “I thoroughly enjoy calling my mom n*a.”
The resurfacing of these tweets comes at an inconvenient time for Barkley, who recently won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award at the 2025 NFL Honors. The controversy has not only drawn backlash online but has also created an unwelcome distraction as he prepares for the biggest game of the season. The situation is even more troubling given that Barkley and Congdon share two children—Jada, 6, and Saquon Jr., 2—who are Black.
Critics have been quick to call out the tweets, with many questioning how such comments align with Congdon’s relationship and family dynamic. Others have debated whether the old posts should overshadow Barkley’s achievements, especially considering the historic season he is having. The New York Giants’ running back recently became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season and is just 29 yards away from breaking Terrell Davis’ record for most rushing yards in a season, including the playoffs.
As the Super Bowl looms, the controversy surrounding Congdon’s tweets is making headlines, leaving many wondering whether Barkley or his fiancée will publicly address the situation. Regardless, the timing couldn’t be worse for a player looking to cement his legacy on the field.
