Madden 27 cover athlete: Why Caleb Williams was chosen by EA Sports for 2026 video game
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Madden 27 cover athlete: Why Caleb Williams was chosen by EA Sports for 2026 video game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Wednesday, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams became the first player from the organization to be featured on a Madden cover.
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Chicago's offensive leader will be featured on the Madden 27 cover after his best NFL season thus far, where he ranked in the top-10 in passing yards and touchdowns.
EA Sports officially announced that Williams would be on the cover of its upcoming game in the "Madden" series, using the image of the quarterback doing his trademark leaping throw on the cover.
Here's why Chicago's quarterback will be on Madden 27 game covers across the country.
MORE:Is the Madden curse real? | Madden covers by year
Caleb Williams chosen as Madden 27 cover athlete
The previous 2026 campaign was by far Williams' best in his young NFL career. Chicago's shot-caller threw for 3,942 yards (a Bears' franchise record) and 27 touchdowns, which both tallied in the top 10 and sat just outside the league's top five. Now, Williams has officially been named as the Madden 27 cover athlete.
The first look at Williams on the cover was released on Wednesday. Here is how the Bears quarterback will look on this year's edition of Madden:
The jump. The #Madden27 Cover. The future.
— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 3, 2026
Gridiron heroics earn @CALEBcsw Cover Athlete status!
Full reveal Thursday, 6/4 at 8 PM ET
🔗: https://t.co/REHXoqeZIfpic.twitter.com/VBzO40XbdF
🥶 The Iceman arrives.
— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 3, 2026
Your #Madden27 Deluxe Edition cover is here.
Full reveal Thursday, 6/4 at 8 PM ET
🔗: https://t.co/REHXoqeZIfpic.twitter.com/gIHFHt94Wb
The Chicago Bears' Standard Edition cover features his "jumpman" pass, a play that has already become a staple in his young career's arsenal.
Here are Caleb Williams' two Madden covers. His jumpman pass, best remembered by the 4th/8 throw to Rome Odunze in the playoffs, is the cover of the Standard Edition. Williams' "Iceman" celebration will be the cover of the Deluxe Edition. pic.twitter.com/ecsmZh1MNp
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 3, 2026
Here is an example of that throw from Williams:
"Caleb Williams is what a true Face of the Franchise looks like — the culmination of many moments in the Chicago Bears' incredible history that has led them to their electric, generational quarterback," said Evan Dexter, EA's VP of Franchise Strategy and Marketing, according to EA's official press release.
"Just like Caleb, the future of football in Madden NFL 27 is thrilling and more dynamic than ever before. We can't wait for fans to see it on June 4."
Williams has earned the title of Chicago's first-ever player to be on a Madden cover. News that the Bears' QB would be featured on the game's Deluxe Edition leaked on May 30.
Madden 27 🤝College Football 27 pic.twitter.com/X41UzcPhGB
— MUTLeaks (@MUTLeaksXXVII) May 30, 2026
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Madden covers by year
From 1988 to 1999, John Madden appeared on every Madden cover. However, after that span, EA began the tradition of selecting an NFL cover athlete solely for each year's edition of their Madden game. While players did appear on the Madden 95 cover, it was Madden himself who was most prominent.
The first player to appear prominently on a Madden cover was Eddie George, the Tennessee Titans running back, in 2000. He appeared on the Madden 2001 cover.
While some fans believe that if a player is selected to be the cover athlete for Madden, they are bound for a negative year, many of the league's best have featured their likeness on the cover of one of the most popular football games.
Here is a list of each Madden cover athlete since 2000.
YearGameCover athlete2000Madden NFL 2001Eddie George2001Madden NFL 2002Daunte Culpepper2002Madden NFL 2003Marshall Faulk2003Madden NFL 2004Michael Vick2004Madden NFL 2005Ray Lewis2005Madden NFL 06Donovan McNabb2006Madden NFL 07Shaun Alexander2007Madden NFL 08Vince Young2008Madden NFL 09Brett Favre2009Madden NFL 10Troy Polamalu & Larry Fitzgerald2010Madden NFL 11Drew Brees2011Madden NFL 12Peyton Hillis2012Madden NFL 13Calvin Johnson2013Madden NFL 25Barry Sanders & Adrian Peterson2014Madden NFL 15Richard Sherman2015Madden NFL 16Odell Beckham Jr.2016Madden NFL 17Rob Gronkowski2017Madden NFL 18Tom Brady2018Madden NFL 19Antonio Brown2019Madden NFL 20Patrick Mahomes2020Madden NFL 21Lamar Jackson2021Madden NFL 22Tom Brady & Patrick Mahomes2022Madden NFL 23John Madden2023Madden NFL 24Josh Allen2024Madden NFL 25Christian McCaffrey2025Madden NFL 26Saquon Barkley2026Madden NFL 27Caleb Williams