SALEM, OR —  EA Sports announced Monday that Saquon Barkley will grace the cover of Madden NFL 26, immortalizing the Philadelphia Eagles‘ running back in two iconic looks. Barkley will appear in the Eagles’ Kelly green throwback uniform on the standard edition cover, capturing the exact moment of his jaw-dropping reverse hurdle against Jacksonville in 2024 — a move that instantly became one of the most replayed plays of the season.


For the game’s deluxe edition, Barkley is featured in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX home uniform, peering through his visor under the bright lights of the championship stage.

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

Barkley’s breathtaking reverse hurdle capped off a historic 2,000-yard season for the former Penn State standout, leading Philadelphia to its first Super Bowl title since 2017. The play was so sensational that EA Sports integrated it into Madden NFL 25 within days, giving players the ability to replicate the move on the virtual gridiron.

“Saquon’s reverse hurdle was one of those moments that would have once been described as ‘something out of a video game,’ ” said Evan Dexter, VP, franchise strategy & marketing for EA Sports Madden NFL. “Now, it’s a testament to the athleticism and creativity of one of the NFL’s most electrifying players. Madden NFL 26 will deliver the most authentic NFL experience we’ve ever built, capturing more of the unreal moments that Saquon put on display all season long.”

Barkley follows in the footsteps of Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers‘ star back who appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 25. After a near-decade gap for running backs on the cover (2014-2023), the back-to-back selections of McCaffrey and Barkley reaffirm the NFL’s appreciation for dynamic runners.

At EA’s preview event in Orlando last week, developers teased an array of new features and gameplay updates designed to capture the spirit of NFL Sundays. While details remain under wraps, Barkley’s presence on the cover signals EA’s intention to highlight the game’s most electrifying playmakers in the most immersive version of Madden NFL yet.

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