Madden 26 cover athlete: Why Saquon Barkley was chosen by EA Sports for 2025 video game

Things just keep getting better for Saquon Barkley. 

The Eagles running back, coming off a 2,000-yard rushing season, his first Super Bowl title and an extension to remain in Philadelphia, will soon be the cover athlete for one of the most well-known football video games out there: Madden 26. 

EA Sports announced Monday that Barkley would be on the cover of its next game in the "Madden" series, using one of the shots of his iconic backwards hurdle in 2024 as the cover.

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Here's what to know about Barkley being on the cover of Madden 26.

MORE: What is the Madden curse? A complete history of NFL stars who experienced cover jinx

Saquon Barkley chosen as Madden 26 cover athlete

During his all-time 2024 campaign, Barkley arguably went the most viral for his backwards hurdle in an Eagles matchup with the Jaguars. EA Sports even added the never-before-seen move to its famous video game — and now, Barkley will also have the honor of rocking the cover of Madden 26.

The first look at Barkley on the cover was released Monday. It's a shot of that well-known backwards hurdle against Jacksonville:

The cover of #Madden26: pic.twitter.com/PAfgIO9RZ5

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2025

Just before the announcement, rumors surrounding Barkley being on the cover were growing, as there was Madden signage in Philadelphia at one of its biggest cheesesteak shops, Geno's, with a sign that read "Steakquon's."

Could something be going on today with Madden 26 and Saquon Barkley at Geno’s Steaks? 🤔
📸 @HughE_Dillon pic.twitter.com/oQIwB8jQed

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 2, 2025

Enjoy my tour of Geno’s with the Saquon takeover. Go birds. pic.twitter.com/aNXCiHBPJ3

— Haley Taylor Simon (@Haleytsimon) June 2, 2025

This is the second time in history that an Eagles player has been on the cover of Madden, with the other being Donovan McNabb in 2006. 

"I'm grateful to my teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans for their support," Barkley said in a statement, per Eagles.com. "I can't wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments in Madden NFL 26."

.@Saquon hurdled his way onto the cover of #Madden26

Coming 8.14.25. Pre-Order Today.

🔗: https://t.co/zm14BbUaJf pic.twitter.com/l1QYWN0b7h

— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 2, 2025

EA Sports Madden NFL's vice president for Franchise Strategy & Marketing, Evan Dexter, also said in a statement that Barkley's hurdle was "something out of a video game," only making it right that he dons the next cover of Madden.

"Saquon's reverse hurdle was one of the rare, defining moments in NFL history that would have once been described as 'something out of a video game,'" Dexter said, per Eagles.com. "Now, it's a display of the athleticism and creativity of one of football's most electrifying athletes. Madden NFL 26 will deliver the most real NFL experience we've ever built so that players can experience more of the unreal moments that Saquon put on display all season long."

Dexter also said that the "full reveal" of the game will come on Wednesday.

Barkley also posted to social media about his selection, writing it is a "dream come true" to be the cover athlete. He also included a video that went behind the scenes of his cover photo shoot:

Hurdling onto the @EAMaddenNFL cover 🙏🏾Dream come true! Fly Eagles Fly 🦅 https://t.co/zUTwOWHE1U pic.twitter.com/X1xQWIEpk6

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) June 2, 2025

With the announcement, the Eagles shaed that Barkley would soon become the first Madden 99 overall offensive player in franchise history.

He keeps making history‼️ Saquon Barkley is the FIRST Eagles offensive player to join the 99 Club! pic.twitter.com/foVEGDdlpN

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) June 2, 2025

Madden covers by year

From 1988 to 1999, John Madden appeared on every Madden cover until EA began the annual tradition of selecting a cover athlete. The first cover Madden didn't appear on was Madden NFL 2001, released in 2000, when Eddie George was selected as the cover athlete.

While some have viewed a Madden cover selection as a "curse" for the player's following season, some of the NFL's biggest stars have received the honor from EA in the past.

Below is a list of each Madden cover athlete since 2000. 

MORE: A look at each Madden cover since 2000