Saquon Barkley did a lot of things right during his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, but one image will define the year long after he’s retired from the game. That would be Barkley’s incredible backward hurdle, which he pulled off in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
That hurdle is the inspiration behind the “Madden 26” cover. Barkley was announced as the video game’s cover athlete Monday, and will be pictured on the cover in his iconic hurdle pose.
EA Sports’ vice president of franchise strategy and marketing, Evan Dexter, confirmed the backward hurdle was the moment the company wanted to capture for the box art, according to PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
“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.’ Now, it’s a display of the athleticism and creativity of one of football’s most electrifying athletes.”
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Barkley is the first player since former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to appear on the “Madden” cover. McNabb starred on the cover in 2006.
In a statement, Barkley said he was grateful to be the Madden cover athlete and looked forward to making more highlights next season.
Barkley also tweeted about the honor, calling it a “dream come true.” He shared a quick clip of the photo shoot EA Sports used to capture the cover image.
The team announced that Barkley will receive a 99 rating in “Madden 26,” making him the first Eagles player to ever receive a 99 in the game.
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The backward hurdle might define Barkley’s excellence, but it’s tough to overstate how well he performed in his first season as an Eagle. Barkley rushed for a league-leading 2,005 yards in 2025. He scored 13 rushing touchdowns, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl, an All-Pro selection and a third-place finish in the MVP voting.
“Madden 26” will release on Playstation 5 and XBox Series X|S on Aug. 14. The standard edition version of the game will cost $69.99. The deluxe edition will cost $99.99.
Fans can also purchase an “MVP Bundle,” which includes both “Madden 26” and “College Football 26.” Fans who purchase that bundle, which costs $149.99, will receive access to both games three days early, meaning some fans will be able to play “Madden 26” as early as Aug. 11.
