Historic Leap Lands Barkley on Madden Cover
Madden 26 Cover: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will be the face of Madden 26, EA Sports confirmed Monday. His selection follows a season for the ages — one that included a legendary reverse hurdle and a Super Bowl win.
Barkley becomes the first Eagles offensive player to grace a Madden cover and also joins the Madden 99 Club, reserved for the highest-rated stars in the game.
Video Game Moves Meet Video Game Glory
The iconic play that sealed Barkley’s place in Madden history came against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On a third-and-6, Barkley caught a flat pass, spun past linebacker Devin Lloyd, and then leapt backward over Jarrian Jones, picking up 14 yards and breaking the internet in the process.
“It was something out of a video game,” said EA’s Evan Dexter. “Now it’s in the video game.”
Career Season Earns Barkley Madden 26 Spotlight
Barkley’s numbers made him a lock for the Madden 26 cover. He rushed for 2,504 yards across the regular season and playoffs, setting a new single-season total rushing record.
He came just 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s regular-season record, but the Eagles chose to rest their starters in the final game — against Barkley’s former team, the New York Giants.
That decision paid off. Barkley ran for 499 yards and scored five touchdowns in the postseason, leading Philadelphia to a Lombardi Trophy.
Top Ratings in Madden NFL 26
Barkley’s athleticism earned him top marks in Madden 26. His spin move, juke, agility, and change of direction ratings are all elite.
He’s the first Eagles player in 20 years to earn a 99 overall rating. The last were Brian Dawkins in Madden 04 and David Akers in Madden 06.
Madden Covers and the Curse
Fans are now debating if Barkley can avoid the dreaded Madden curse — the superstition that the game’s cover athlete gets injured or underperforms the next season.
But with Barkley’s focus and physical condition, many believe he’s built to break the trend.
Madden 26 Release Date and What’s Next
EA will unveil full game details this Wednesday. The Madden 26 release date is expected in August 2025, continuing a long tradition of annual football releases.
Fans of the franchise can also compare Madden covers by year and revisit classic titles like Madden 25. Barkley’s image on the Madden 25 cover successor marks a new era of dynamic gameplay.
Source: ESPN