On Monday, EA Sports unveiled Saquon Barkley as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, solidifying the Philadelphia Eagles star as not just the most explosive player in football, but its digital ambassador.
Barkley becomes only the second Eagles player, after quarterback Donovan McNabb (Madden NFL 06), to land on the cover. After a record-breaking 2024–25 season, the Madden honor was a no-brainer.
Barkley rushed for 2,504 total yards, breaking the NFL’s single-season rushing record. He became just the ninth player ever to top 2,000 yards in the regular season and led the league in both total touchdowns and 10+ yard runs.
Along the way, he earned AP Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Pro honors, and became just the third player in league history to win the rushing title and a Super Bowl in the same season.
Yes, Jalen Hurts was Super Bowl MVP, carrying the Eagles with his dual-threat brilliance. But it was Barkley who powered the offense week in and week out — especially in the now-iconic Snow Game, where he plowed through defenders on a frozen field and earned the moniker “Snoquon.”
That night was a masterclass in power and balance — a 205-yard playoff performance that left a blizzard of defenders in his wake.
Barkley’s reverse hurdle against the Jaguars went viral for good reason. It wasn’t just a broken tackle or a leap — it was a move so unreal, it rewrote what’s possible in live-action football.
Madden players will now get the chance to try it themselves, as Barkley joins the Madden 99 Club, becoming the first Eagles offensive player ever to receive the honor.
From stiff-arms to sideline tightropes, Barkley is synonymous with turbo mode — a blend of speed, strength, agility, and vision that looks custom-built for a controller. Now, he’s on the box too.
EA Sports will unveil more details in Wednesday’s full reveal of Madden NFL 26. But fans already know the headline: Snoquon is the face of the game.
Madden NFL 26 will be released on August 14, 2025. Pre-order it now for PS5 and Xbox.
Globely News covers the game changers transforming the worlds of business, sports, politics, and technology. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China and the NFL's next stars, we've got you covered.