Saquon Barkley’s historic season continues to get better. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and his legendary reverse hurdle will be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 26. Barkley also has been named to the Madden 99 Club — a first for an Eagles offensive player. Barkley, the reigning Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, is coming off one of the best seasons for a running back in NFL history. He rushed for 2,504 yards over the regular season and the postseason, breaking the single-season record. Barkley had a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s regular season record but fell 101 yards short. The Eagles decided to rest Barkley in the season finale against his former team, the New York Giants. The calculation paid off, as Barkley rushed for 499 yards and five touchdowns in the playoffs to help Philadelphia capture its second Lombardi Trophy in a blowout of the Chiefs.

Barkley’s season was full of highlight-reel plays, but the one that stands out above all was the innovative reverse hurdle he pulled off in early November against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barkley took a pass from Jalen Hurts in the flat, broke a tackle and put a spin move on Devin Lloyd that had Lloyd grasping at air as he fell to the ground. Barkley was just getting warmed up. He then stepped so his back was to cornerback Jarrian Jones, elevated and blindly leapfrogged Jones for an extra five yards on what turned out to be a 14-yard gain. After that feat, it’s no surprise that Barkley’s ratings for spin move, juke, agility and change of direction are all tops in Madden NFL 26. The Eagles rewarded Saquon with another 2-year extension during the offseason.

Barkley is the Eagles’ first Madden 99 Club member in 20 years. He joins safety Brian Dawkins (Madden 04) and kicker David Akers (Madden 06).

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