Do you like EA’s choice of Saquon Barkley for the Madden 26 cover?
Saquon Barkley Named Madden NFL 26 Cover Athlete
On June 2, 2025, EA Sports revealed that Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will be the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26. Barkley’s inclusion comes after a record-shattering 2024 season in which he rushed for 2,504 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, setting a new NFL single-season rushing record. He becomes the first Eagles player on the cover since Donovan McNabb in 2006. The standard edition showcases his viral backward hurdle play from Week 9, while the deluxe edition highlights a dramatic sideline portrait. Barkley’s selection also revives the long-standing debate about the "Madden Curse," a superstition that cover athletes tend to face injury or performance issues. Madden 26 will be released on August 14, including for Nintendo Switch 2—a return to Nintendo consoles after more than a decade.
Options
- Love it
- It's solid
- Could have been better
- Should've picked someone else
- Don't follow Madden