It’s time for running backs to get their respect again! The cover for Madden 26 was officially unveiled on Monday and we have Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley hurdling over a defender on one of the most iconic plays of the 2024 NFL season.
Saquon Barkley’s iconic reverse hurdle is the cover of ‘Madden NFL 26’
A running back graces the cover again.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
This is the second straight year a running back has been on the cover, with Christian McCaffrey being the athlete on Madden NFL 25. That sparked debate over the infamous “Madden Curse” once more, after laying dormant for years. McCaffrey was out for much of the 2024 season dealing with a variety of injuries, which greatly impact the 49ers ability to do much of anything. Now Eagles fans will just have to hope and pray that nothing happens to Barkley as a result.
It’s just so nice to see a running back on the cover once more. Madden has always followed league trends, and running the ball is where everyone in the league is going now. This is also the first time a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars was on the cover of Madden, albeit as a person being hurdled over.
Barkley recreated the play in the EA studios. Was he on wires here? This can’t be real.
In case you do n’t remember this play let’s re-live how magical it was.
Hell yeah.
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