Saquon Barkley had one of the best seasons ever for a running back in 2024. He nearly set the single-season rushing record and catapulted the Philadelphia Eagles to a phenomenal win in Super Bowl 59.
The Eagles appear poised to become an NFL dynasty, and Barkley’s role behind this feat is an undeniable reality. His impact is widely recognized, and his recent accomplishment — though off the field — is just as impressive.
Barkley was recently named the featured player for the Madden 26 cover, and Dallas Cowboys star, and fellow Penn State alum, Micah Parsons had a short and sweet reaction.
Micah Parsons Drops Brief Reaction for Saquon Barkley’s Madden Cover
Barkley was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent his first six seasons with the New York Giants. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after posting 1,307 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 91 catches, 721 yards, and four receiving scores.
Barkley played in all 16 games as a rookie, but didn’t do so again until 2022. Heading into the 2021 season, the Giants picked up his fifth-year option, which paid him $7.2 million. The following year, Barkley finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting after totaling 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 57 catches and 338 yards.
That offseason, New York used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Barkley, putting him at just over $10 million that season. They then let him walk after the 2023 season, and Barkley signed a $37.75 million contract with the Eagles.
Barkley was unstoppable behind the Eagles’ offensive line in 2024, leading the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards on a league-high 345 carries. The Eagles held him out of the regular-season finale, and he finished 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record.
Barkley continued his dominance in the playoffs, leading the NFL again in carries (91) and rushing yards (499) in Philadelphia’s four games. Following such a dominant showing, the Madden 26 news hardly comes as a surprise.
Parsons reacted to the news with a simple message calling back to the pair’s separate time at Penn State. The Cowboys star posted to his Instagram story, “We Are,” with a goat emoji.
This channels the iconic “We Are, Penn State” chant both players heard throughout their college careers. Barkley left school the year before Parsons arrived, so their careers never overlapped, but this was a classy way for the Cowboys pass rusher to recognize his fellow Penn State alum, even though they’re on rival NFC East squads.
The cover photo for Madden 26 is legendary. It shows Barkley jumping backwards over a defender from Philadelphia’s Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In that game, Barkley rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while catching three passes for 40 yards and another score. His numbers were outstanding, but the reverse hurdle will go down as one of the best moves ever pulled off on a football field.
It was an iconic moment now immortalized on the Madden 26 cover. Barkley was already given a two-year extension this offseason, but this is a fitting reward for one of the coolest football moves ever.