Saquon Barkley has earned the honor of being the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26. This achievement makes him only the second player in Philadelphia Eagles history to appear on the cover, following Hall of Fame quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2006.
Joining the Elite Madden 99 Club
In addition to the cover spotlight, Barkley has also entered the prestigious Madden 99 Club—an elite group of players with the game’s highest possible rating. He becomes the first Eagles offensive player to receive the honor, following kicker David Akers and safety Brian Dawkins.
“Being on the Madden cover and joining the 99 Club are dreams come true,” Barkley said. “I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, and fans for their support. I’m excited to give players more unforgettable moments in Madden NFL 26.”
A Record-Breaking Season
Barkley didn’t just make headlines—he rewrote them. In the 2024 season, he:
Won the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Rushed for a franchise-record 2,005 yards in the regular season
Set a new NFL single-season rushing record with 2,504 total yards, including playoffs
Broke Eagles records for most rushing yards in a single game, both in the regular season (255) and playoffs (205)
Moreover, he led the league with 46 runs of 10+ yards, earned four NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, and won NFC Offensive Player of the Month in November. In total, Barkley surpassed 100 rushing yards in 14 games and scored three rushing touchdowns of over 60 yards during the postseason—an NFL playoff record.
An Unforgettable Play Inspires the Cover
Barkley’s most talked-about moment—his reverse hurdle over a defender in a game against the Jaguars—defined the kind of “video game” play Madden seeks to recreate.
“That play looked unreal,” said Evan Dexter, VP at EA SPORTS Madden NFL. “Now, it reflects the kind of real NFL magic Barkley delivers. Madden 26 will bring those moments to life.”
