Saquon Barkley Graces Madden NFL 26 Cover After Iconic Hurdle

Saquon Barkley Lands Madden NFL 26 Cover After Iconic Reverse Hurdle

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is the face of Madden NFL 26. His jaw-dropping reverse hurdle during a Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars has earned him the honor — and it’s the highlight image on the game’s standard cover.

A Play Straight Out of a Video Game

The now-famous play happened on a third-and-6 when Barkley caught a pass in the flat. He broke a tackle, spun past a defender, and then shocked everyone by leaping backward over cornerback Jarrian Jones — all while facing away from the defender. The 14-yard gain instantly went viral, with fans calling it “straight out of Madden.”

.@Saquon hurdled his way onto the cover of #Madden26

Coming 8.14.25. Pre-Order Today.

????: https://t.co/zm14BbUaJf pic.twitter.com/l1QYWN0b7h

— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 2, 2025

Two Special Covers for Madden NFL 26

Standard Edition: Features Barkley in the Eagles’ retro Kelly green uniform performing the reverse hurdle.
Deluxe Edition: Shows Barkley in the Eagles’ modern home uniform, spotlighted dramatically — a nod to their Super Bowl LIX win.

Madden 99 Club & Offensive Player of the Year

Barkley was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and joined the elite Madden 99 Club — becoming the first Eagles offensive player ever to receive a 99 overall rating in the video game.

It had to be #26 on the cover of #Madden26 ???? pic.twitter.com/MGo3FgXVYN

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) June 2, 2025

Saquon Barkley’s Unforgettable 2024 Season

Saquon Barkley delivered a record-breaking 2024 season, rushing for 2,005 yards in the regular season—making him only the ninth player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 yards.

Barkley scored 13 rushing touchdowns and added 2 more as a receiver. He totaled 2,504 rushing yards, setting a new NFL single-season record.