Super Bowl champ and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley is officially the face of Madden NFL 26. EA Sports dropped the big reveal today, showing the Eagles’ All-Pro running back in all his glory on the cover of the upcoming game.
And it’s not just any action shot, it’s that reverse hurdle that had everyone talking last season.
If you know, you know. Barkley’s now-iconic move, a wild mid-play spin and leap that left defenders frozen, was the kind of jaw-dropping moment that sports fans usually describe as “straight out of a video game.” So it’s only fitting that it’s now literally the image representing this year’s Madden.
.@Saquon hurdled his way onto the cover of #Madden26
— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 2, 2025
Coming 8.14.25. Pre-Order Today.
🔗: https://t.co/zm14BbUaJf pic.twitter.com/l1QYWN0b7h
“Starring on the cover of Madden NFL 26 and being named to the Madden NFL 99 Club are both dreams come true,” Barkley said. “I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans for their support, and I can’t wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments.”
This makes Barkley just the second Eagles player to ever land on a Madden cover, joining quarterback legend Donovan McNabb, who fronted Madden 06. And Barkley’s latest achievement? He’s the first Eagles offensive player ever to join the ultra-elite Madden 99 Club—the pinnacle rating in the game.
“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,’” said Evan Dexter, VP of Franchise Strategy & Marketing at EA Sports Madden NFL. “Now, it’s a real-life display of the athleticism and creativity of one of football’s most electrifying athletes.”
Barkley joins a short list of Eagles greats who’ve hit the upper echelon in Madden ratings. Kicker David Akers and Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins have both been part of the 99 Club before. Other elite Birds who came close include Lane Johnson, Terrell Owens, LeSean McCoy, and Brian Westbrook, all of whom scored a 97 or 98 overall.
But this moment? This is Barkley’s.
Coming off a monster season that included a Super Bowl win, a career-high in rushing yards, and enough viral clips to fill a whole mixtape, it’s clear Barkley isn’t just one of the best in the league, he’s one of the most exciting to watch.
Whether he’s breaking ankles, hurdling over defenders (or now, reverse hurdling them), or catching deep routes like a wideout, he’s redefining what a modern-day back can do.
Madden NFL 26 is set to be released on August 14, but you can preorder it today.
