Eagles' Saquon Barkley and his backwards hurdle to be on Madden NFL 2026 cover
After a record-setting season, Barkley and his famous backwards hurdle will be featured on the cover of the popular video game.
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Here's when it will release and how to get a copy:
When is Madden NFL 2026 being released?
The release date for Madden NFL 2026 is Aug. 14, 2025.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will be on the cover of Madden NFL 2026.
How do preorder Madden NFL 2026
To preorder the game, visit the EA Sports website here.
The Barkley hurdle: Eagles Saquon Barkley's backwards hurdle 'best play I ever saw'. Social media goes bonkers
Madden NFL: Eagles Saquon Barkley reacts − with a twist − to Madden NFL adding backwards hurdle to game
Saquon Barkley hurdle added to Madden
It's not surprising that Barkley will grace the cover of this year's Madden.
Barkley's improbable backwards hurdle over a Jacksonville Jaguars defender in the Birds' Week 9 win was added to Madden NFL 2025.
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Here's how it looks in the game:
Saquon Barkley's hurdle goes viral
Shortly after Barkley took a pass in the flat from quarterback Jalen Hurts broke a tackle, spun away from another defender and then leaped backward over defensive back Jarrian Jones − social media went wild.
It wasn't long after that play — maybe the most memorable of the year — was added to Madden.
Saquon Barkley's record-setting season
Barkley was selected for the honor following his first season with the Eagles where he rushed for 2,504 yards — the most ever in a season when counting the playoffs.
He also had the most scrimmage yards in a season with 2,857. His 499 rushing yards were the third most all-time in one postseason and his 2,005 rushing yards was eighth most all-time in a regular season.
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He also added 15 total touchdowns in the regular season and five more in the playoffs, which was capped by the Birds' 40-22 Super Bowl 59 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Is the 'Madden curse' real?
Some might say this is bad news for Barkley and Eagles fans due to the "Madden curse" as some players have sustained major injuries or sudden downfalls after gracing the cover.
Here's a look at some of more notable "cursed" seasons by players who were on the Madden cover:
2017: New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski missed the first four games of the 2018 season and started only six games total due to a herniated disk and other injuries.
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2012: Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis, who came out of nowhere to rush for 1,000-plus yards, missed six games with an injury the following season and never reached his 2012 peak again.
2011: New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees wasn't bitten by the injury bug, but he did toss a career-high and franchise-record 22 picks as the Saints missed the playoffs.
2010: Steelers S Troy Polamalu, who shared the cover with Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, missed 11 games because of an MCL injury.
2009: New York Jets QB Brett Favre forced his way out of Green Bay after a Hall-of-Fame career with the Packers and then out on throw a league-leading 22 interceptions.
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2008: Titans QB Vince Young threw only nine touchdowns and was picked 17 times before being benched.
Celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl win with our new book
2007: Seattle Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander rushed for only 896 yards and five-straight 1,000-plus yard seasons.
2006: Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb missed half of the season due to injuries and had a public feud with star WR Terrell Owens the following season after losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
2004: Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick fractured a fibula less than a week after the game's release, causing him to miss all but five games that season.
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2003: Rams RB Marshall Faulk, a model of consistency after five-straight 1,000-plus rushing yard season, fell short of the mark and never reached it again.
2002: Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper missed six games due to injuries and lost 16 fumbles.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Madden NFL 2026 cover to feature Eagles' Saquon Barkley hurdle
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