Philadelphia Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley has been named as the cover star for the upcoming Madden NFL 26, but was shocked when the game’s developers sought his permission
Saquon Barkley has been named on the cover of Madden NFL 26(Image: Getty)
The Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley confessed he was stunned when developers sought his permission to be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 26. Barkley was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season after a blistering campaign.
Following a Super Bowl-winning term, Barkley, who racked up over 2,000 yards rushing while adding another 278 through the air, has been granted the privilege of becoming Madden’s cover star for the game’s 2026 edition.
The 28-year-old former Penn State back arrived in Philly after departing his longtime base with the New York Giants in 2024, but was amazed to discover that those selected for the game’s cover are actually consulted about whether they wish to grace it.
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“I say this every time someone asks me that question; they actually ask you, ‘Do you want to be on the cover of Madden,'” Barkley revealed on the Pardon My Take podcast when questioned about the achievement.
“I wonder how many people have ever said no. They just ask you first, and you have to accept being on the cover of Madden, and to me, I’m like, ‘Why would I ever say no?’
“But, you know, being on the cover of Madden, just with how many guys that I grew up watching and been fans of [that have been on it], been watching football for a really long time.
“To be in that fraternity now is something that is… my kids are gonna always be able to go and go to this certain Madden and see their dad on there. My nieces and nephews and team-mates. It’s cool, it’s really cool.”
Barkley will grace the cover of the Standard and Deluxe editions of the game(Image: Electronic Arts Inc.)
Not only will Barkley be gracing Madden 26’s cover, but following a campaign that witnessed him rush for the eighth-highest tally of yards in a single NFL season, the New York-born sensation will enter an elite group of players to be rated 99 overall in the game, the highest rating achievable, reports the Mirror US.
“Ninety-nine is big,” he continued. “I don’t got to go and edit my player and make myself a 99 anymore! But, it’s cool, 99 on Madden. Madden is just part of the culture of football growing up.
“You want to make it to the NFL, but you think about being a 99 overall, you think about being on the cover, being in Madden in general, so this has been super, super amazing, I’m not going to lie.”
When questioned about whether he actually plays the title, which originated as John Madden Football in 1988 and bears the name of the late legendary Oakland Raiders coach, Barkley confessed he still does, primarily using the game’s Franchise Mode.
“Yeah, of course, I play Madden in a weird way,” revealed the former Offensive Rookie of the Year. “I guess it’s not really that weird, but to me, I play Franchise Mode.
“I go on, I take a team, I’ll trade all their great players, get as many draft picks as I can, and then draft random guys and kind of make a rebuild. That’s like how I play Madden. No [I don’t play with the Eagles]. We’re pretty good. I pick a random team. Right now, it’s probably the Jets or the Rams.”
Barkley will be keen to dodge the infamous Madden curse, a widely held superstition that players who appear on the cover endure lacklustre seasons or suffer unlucky injuries. For instance, last year, fellow running back Christian McCaffrey was on the cover and only participated in four matches due to an injury nightmare, while his San Francisco 49ers finished with a disappointing 6-11 record.