Madden 26 is one of the most anticipated sports games of 2025, and with the release date inching closer and closer, players have started to wonder who will be featured on this year's cover.
There are a few obvious choices, but many of those have been featured in recent covers, which disqualifies them from the race. Reigning MVP Josh Allen is the best example of that.
So, who is among the favourites to be the Madden 26 cover star? Let's find out!
Madden 26 Cover Star Favourites
There are five players on the Madden 26 Cover Star favourite list. These players are Joe Burrow, Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Jalen Hurts.
While players such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson are arguably more popular than the ones listed above, they have been recently featured on a Madden cover.
Historically, Madden doesn't like to repeat cover stars, at least not in such a short period. Mahomes is the only exception, featuring on the Madden 20 and Madden 22 covers.
So, we are bound to have a new face gracing this year's cover, and I expect it to be someone from those five names listed above. But why these five players, you might be asking. Let's find out.
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is on the elite quarterback shelf, with Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. Despite missing the playoffs last season, Burrow's numbers were nothing short of amazing, so good that they earned him a place on the MVP ballot.
If Madden wants to continue to feature superstar quarterbacks on their cover, which they likely want to, then Burrow is the obvious choice for the Madden 26 Cover Star. He has the star power and the play to back that up.
Funnily enough, Bengals fans are likely hoping this doesn't happen, as the Madden curse has proved to be quite real and the Cincinnati faithful don't want to miss the playoffs for the second straight year.
Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley is coming off a historic season, with the best running back in the league breaking the single-season rushing yards record and winning a Super Bowl to top it off.
Barkley is the perfect pick if EA NFL wants to feature a non-quarterback as the cover star, something that hasn't happened in a few years. It also feels like the best time to do so, since historic seasons like the one Barkley had don't happen all the time. Well, that's why they are called historic.
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the league and is coming off another great season, where he surpassed the 1500-yard mark and had 10 touchdowns. He is the engine of the Minnesota Vikings' offense and one of the most talented players at the wide receiver position ever.
Picking Jefferson for the Madden 26 Cover Star would be a solid choice, and follow the same trend of thought I used with Barkley, picking a non-quarterback superstar for the first time in seven years.
Ja'Marr Chase
If there is one person who disagrees with Justin Jefferson being the best wide receiver in the NFL, it's Ja'Marr Chase. The Bengals' superstar had a phenomenal year, so much so that many have him on top of their wide receiver rankings for next season.
Chase checks all the boxes of a Madden cover star. He is incredibly popular, one of the best in the league at his position, very charismatic, and probably a future MVP candidate.
Jalen Hurts
Last but certainly not least, we have Super Bowl champion and MVP Jalen Hurts, who led the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win. This wasn't your typical Super Bowl win, as the Eagles dominated the three-peat seeking Kansas City Chiefs, with Hurts playing a flawless game.
While Hurts is arguably not as popular as the other four players in this list, and his presence in the elite quarterback tier is still disputed by most, Jalen Hurts needs to be among the favourites for the Madden 26 Cover Star.
Hurts is, at worst, a good quarterback who is coming off a great season, is somewhat popular, and has been in the MVP conversation before. He might not be a clear-cut pick, but he is more than a solid choice.
This is everything you need to know about the Madden 26 Cover Star and who might feature in it. Make sure you check out the Madden 26 Editions, as it will help you decide which edition is the best for you.