NFL Reacts to Major Saquon Barkley Announcement on Monday
NFL Reacts to Major Saquon Barkley Announcement on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley grabbed headlines on Monday after it was announced that he is the new cover athlete for Madden 26.
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This is an undeniably huge honor for the All-Pro running back, who is coming off his first career Super Bowl title after the Eagles took down the dynasty-seeking Kansas City Chiefs in the big game back in February.
The big news drew all sorts of reactions from NFL and Madden fans everywhere, with Barkley now joining an elite club of superstars who have graced the cover of the highly popular game franchise.
In fact, even the NFL had to react to the major announcement.
"The @EAMaddenNFL cover athlete is a 9️⃣9️⃣" the league posted on Instagram.
View the original article to see embedded media.
The NFL's message focused on the fact that Barkley received a 99 rating for the upcoming version of the game, which is set to be released on August 14.
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Barkley himself has already reacted to getting a perfect rating for Madden 26. The Eagles posted a video of the three-time Pro Bowler receiving an iced-out 99 chain to mark the big news as Barkley expressed how much this all means to him.
As Barkley indicated in the video, he is the first Eagles offensive player ever to receive a 99 rating in Madden. It is an elusive honor that is reserved for only the best of the best.
Barkley has now officially joined the elite club of 99-ers in the same year that he graced the cover of one of the most well-loved game franchises on the planet.
Related: Saquon Barkley's New Pennsylvania Mansion is Turning Heads After Eagles' Super Bowl
Related: Saquon Barkley's Fiancée Shares Up-Close Video of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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