Who Will Be Next Giants Star on Madden Cover?

In the 15 months since running back Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants for the Philadelphia Eagles, the losses have continued to mount.

He quickly set the league ablaze with the help of an elite offensive line, trampling the Giants for 176 yards and a score in his return to East Rutherford. Barkley then joined the 2,000-yard club, had a historic playoff run, and ultimately won the Super Bowl. New York won three games.

Oh, and he pulled off the most famous highlight of the season, reverse hurdling over Jacksonville Jaguars corner Jarrian Jones. That play landed him on the cover of Madden NFL 26, with the game recreating the jump heard around the (football) world.

"When you get the call, you don't know what to expect, right? And they ask you, 'Do you want to be part of the Madden cover?' I don't know if anyone's turned that down," Barkley said Monday, via NFL.com.

"I definitely wasn't gonna turn that down, the opportunity. I know so many people, so many kids that dream and would love to be in the position I am right now. I remember as a kid wanting to be part of the Madden cover. There have been so many players that have been part of the Madden cover. Now to be mentioned and have my name attached with those guys, words really can't describe it."

Barkley’s Madden cover sparked Giants fans’ imagination, too, as they wondered when their favorite team would return to EA Sports’ spotlight.

The obvious answer, of course, is receiver Malik Nabers. A 2024 first-round pick, Nabers entered the league with plenty of fanfare, then took the sport’s biggest market by storm. It took him a month to prove himself worthy of elite consideration, logging two 100-yard games.

Nabers is New York’s best offensive player, a highlight machine, and incredibly marketable. With better quarterback play on the way, it’s easy to see him going nuclear and forcing himself into that conversation in a year’s time.

Nabers would be the first Giants star to grace the cover since receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whose one-handed catch thrust him into a different stratosphere of fame. An LSU product with unlimited athleticism and the production to match, he shares a similar story to Nabers. The New York faithful hope their newest offensive phenom (or his rookie quarterback) can reach those same heights.

For now, they’ll have to see Barkley on the cover each time they log on.

"I'm grateful to my teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans for their support," Barkley said in a statement. "And I can't wait to hit the field again to give Madden players more highlight-reel moments in Madden NFL 26."