super bowl champion, saquon barkley, named madden 26 cover star

Saquon Barkley has been named the cover athlete for Madden 26. The Eagles running back is featured on the cover doing his patented backwards hurdle that he pulled out against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2024-2025 season. 

Barkley joins Christian McCaffrey as the second running back in a row to be featured on the cover of Madden. He becomes the first Eagle to grace the cover since Quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2006. 

Barkley led the league in 2025 with 2,005 rushing yards, and a Super Bowl win in his first season in Philadelphia. His 2,005 rushing yards put him only 100 yards away from the single season record. His historic season made him the ninth running back to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season. 

Barkley will have to avoid the “Madden curse” if he wants to recreate his magical 2025 season. Many fans believe the superstition that Madden’s cover athletes have a decline in their performance during the time that they are featured on the cover. McCaffrey was the last victim as he only appeared in four games due to injury. 

Jarrian Jones was the Jacksonville player who got hurdled by Barkley. When he saw the cover he was not upset about being featured in a negative way. “damn, they didn’t put my number on there?” Jones jokingly said in reference to the cover. 

Barkley is expected to remain a top back for the upcoming season. He will be running behind a talented Eagles offensive line as they look to repeat as champions.

Mason Garcia

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Associate Writer