Madden NFL 26 releases August 14 and in announcement on Monday regarding different details of the game, EA Sports revealed the seven-player "99 Overall Club." Not only was a former Penn State football running back a no-brainer to make the exclusive group, but Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley will be the cover star of this edition of the video game.
Barkley received a 95 speed rating, 81 strength rating, 95 agility rating, 94 change of direction rating, 91 injury rating, and 99 awareness rating. Just below Barkley with a 98 overall rating is Baltimore Ravens' Derrick Henry.
And the top 10 Madden 26 running backs and tight ends: https://t.co/nKnCTz46aP pic.twitter.com/BOCyhT2FMS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2025
In the 2024 regular season, Barkley recorded 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns on 345 carries with an additional 33 receptions for 278 yards and two receiving touchdowns. In the playoffs, he had 91 carries for 499 yards and 13 receptions for 75 yards — including 25 carries for 57 yards and six receptions for 40 yards in Super Bowl LIX.
Eagles' right tackle Lane Johnson joins Barkley in the club too. Johnson received a 77 speed rating, 93 strength rating, 75 agility rating, 58 change of direction rating, 84 injury rating, and 99 awareness rating.
The Penn State product is an MVP candidate as well heading into the 2025 season. According to The Athletic, Barkley's watched how Johnson's taken care of his body, especially with the workload ahead of him in his second season as an Eagle and eighth overall NFL season. Barkley said rather than be ready for Week 1 at the start of fall training camp, he redirected his approach. Rest and recovery were his priorities before preseason so he didn't tire, overwork, or injure himself before he needs to be performing at his best once the first game of the season actually rolls around.
“He does a really good job of knowing himself — of when he needs to come out, when he wants to go back in,” Eagles' offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said to The Athletic. “So, a lot of that will be on him, obviously during games, and he’s really good about paying attention to that.”
Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen, Minnesota Vikings' wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Cleveland Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett, and Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson are the other five that join the Philadelphia duo in the "99 Overall Club." The MVP bundle can be pre-ordered on the EA Sports website here, which comes out Aug. 7.