Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle lands cover of Madden 26
Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles
When you think of the cover of Madden, you think of superstars, legends, and the best in the game.
Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Patrick Mahomes, and now Saquon Barkley.
Following Barkley’s 2024 season, where he broke the all-time rushing record in the regular and postseason while winning Super Bowl LIX, has earned him the Madden 26 cover, featuring his legendary backwards hurdle in the Kelly Green uniforms against the Jaguars.
The game releases on August 14 and is available for pre-order now.
Barkley is the first Eagles player on the cover of Madden since Donovan McNabb back in 2006. He also becomes the first offensive Eagles player to be named to the Madden 99 Club. The only other Eagles in that club have been Brian Dawkins (Madden 2004) and David Akers (Madden 2006).
“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 in Madden NFL 26.”
In the 28-year-old’s first year in Philadelphia, he rushed for 2,504 yards, breaking Terrell Davis’s record of 2,476 in 1998, becoming just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, won Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, agreed to a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in the NFL and keeps him under contract through the 2028 season, and is now on the cover of Madden.
And, of course, he jumped over a grown man backwards.
“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,'” Evan Dexter, vice president of franchise strategy and marketing for EA Sports Madden NFL, said. “Now, it’s a display of the athleticism and creativity of one of football’s most electrifying athletes. Madden NFL 26 will deliver the most real NFL experience we’ve ever built so that players can experience more of the unreal moments that Saquon put on display all season long. The full reveal is this Wednesday — don’t miss what’s next.”
Now, let us just hope the Madden curse does not hit him, like it has for pretty much every single running back since 2000.
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Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin has been covering Philly Sports for Philly Sports Reports since 2017. He is a podcaster, writer, and founder of Philly Sports Reports. Benjamin is also an intern at the WBCB Sports Network on 1490AM. Through Philly Sports Reports, Benjamin has gotten the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and be honored as the Philadelphia sports fan of the week for KYW News Radio. He hopes to be reporting on Philly sports as a full-time job in the future.
