Eagles RB Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle earns cover of ‘Madden NFL 26’

A highlight-making machine is riding his wave of success into video game immortality.

Saquon Barkley will grace the cover of Madden NFL 26, EA Sports announced on Monday.

“When you get the call, you don’t know what to expect, right? And they ask you, ‘Do you want to be part of the Madden cover?’ I don’t know if anyone’s turned that down,” Barkley said Monday on The Insiders when asked about finding out he’d serve as the game’s feature athlete. “I definitely wasn’t gonna turn that down, the opportunity. I know so many people, so many kids that dream and would love to be in the position I am right now. I remember as a kid wanting to be part of the Madden cover. There have been so many players that have been part of the Madden cover. Now to be mentioned and have my name attached with those guys, words really can’t describe it.”

Barkley will land on two covers in two different uniforms. For Madden NFL 26‘s standard edition, Barkley is sporting the Kelly green Eagles throwback he was wearing when he pulled off the reverse hurdle heard ’round the internet against Jacksonville in 2024. In fact, while staged, the cover image depicts Barkley achieving that exact feat.

For the game’s deluxe edition, Barkley is seen in the same standard home uniform the Eagles wore in their Super Bowl LIX triumph, glancing menacingly through the side of his visor while bathed in the spotlight of the big game.

“I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans for their support,” Barkley said in a statement on Monday, “and I can’t wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments in Madden NFL 26.