Philly Athletes on Video Game Covers: The All-Time List

Saquon Barkley just earned himself another Philly milestone — he’s now a video game cover athlete.

EA Sports made it official earlier this week. Saquon Barkley will grace the cover of Madden NFL 26, becoming the first Eagle to rock the Kelly Greens on a Madden cover. After last season’s viral reverse hurdle play (which EA literally patched into Madden NFL 25 mid-year), this one felt inevitable.

Barkley also joins a pretty exclusive club — just the fourth Eagle ever on a video game cover, and the 20th Philadelphia pro athlete to be featured on one across all sports.

Philly athletes have had some iconic covers over the years, so here’s the full list — a proper stroll down memory lane for Philly sports and gamers alike.

The Complete Philly Athletes Video Game Cover Club (Newest to Oldest)

• Saquon Barkley, Eagles – Madden NFL 26 (EA, 2025)
• Bryce Harper, Phillies – MLB The Show 19 (Sony, 2019)
• Joel Embiid, Sixers – NBA Live 19 (EA, 2018)
• Ben Simmons, Sixers – NBA 2K19 (Australia exclusive, 2K, 2018)
• Claude Giroux, Flyers – NHL 13 (EA, 2012)
• Roy Halladay, Phillies – MLB 2K11 (2K, 2011)
• Ryan Howard, Phillies – MLB 08: The Show (Sony, 2008)
• Donovan McNabb, Eagles – Madden NFL 06 (EA, 2005)
• Terrell Owens, Eagles – ESPN NFL 2K5 (SEGA, 2004)
• Jeremy Roenick, Flyers – ESPN NHL Hockey (SEGA, 2003)
• Allen Iverson, Sixers – ESPN NBA Basketball (SEGA, 2003)
• Jeremy Roenick, Flyers – NHL 2K3 (SEGA, 2002)
• Allen Iverson, Sixers – NBA 2K3 (SEGA, 2002)
• Allen Iverson, Sixers – NBA 2K2 (SEGA, 2001)
• Donovan McNabb, Eagles – NFL GameDay 2002 (Sony, 2001)
• Allen Iverson, Sixers – NBA 2K1 (SEGA, 2000)
• Allen Iverson, Sixers – NBA 2K (SEGA, 1999)
• John LeClair, Flyers – NHL FaceOff 2000 (Sony, 1999)
• Eric Lindros, Flyers – NHL 99 (EA, 1998)
• John LeClair, Flyers – NHL FaceOff 98 (Sony, 1997)

Team Breakdown:

That gives the Sixers the lead for cover athletes with seven, mainly because of Allen Iverson carrying the weight with five appearances. From there, you have a rare Ben Simmons Aussie cover and an appearance from Joel Embiid on NBA Live in 2019.

Iverson was basically the face of NBA 2K for five years straight — unheard of today.

Next up would be the Flyers, with John LeClair, Eric Lindros, and Jeremy Roenick leading the charge years ago, followed by Claude Giroux back in 2013. Giroux winning the NHL 13 cover vote was a full-on Flyers fan campaign after his breakout year.

The Eagles notch four of their own with Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens now joined by Saquon Barkley. T.O.’s NFL 2K5 cover was legendary — especially since that game dropped early for $20 and is still considered one of the best football games ever made.

Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, and Bryce Harper cover the Phillies front, with the most recent athlete obviously being Harp in the cover of MLB The Show in 2019.

Halladay on MLB 2K11 came right after his perfect game and postseason no-hitter. Easy choice there. Harper’s MLB The Show 19 cover was revealed just days after he signed with the Phillies — timing was tight, but Philly fans were fired up.

Athlete Breakdown: Philly Video Game Cover Club (Newest to Oldest)

• Allen Iverson – 5
• John LeClair – 2
• Jeremy Roenick – 2
• Donovan McNabb – 2
• Eric Lindros – 1
• Ryan Howard – 1
• Roy Halladay – 1
• Bryce Harper – 1
• Claude Giroux – 1
• Terrell Owens – 1
• Saquon Barkley – 1
• Joel Embiid – 1
• Ben Simmons – 1 (Australia only)

Couple Notes:

Shoutout to Nick Tricome at Philly Voice for picking up that the NHLPA Hockey ’93 technically featured a Flyers vs. Rangers image on the box, but with no official NHL license or cover athlete, it doesn’t count here. Simmons’ NBA 2K19 cover was an Australia/New Zealand exclusive, but hey, a cover is a cover.

Now It’s Saquon Barkley’s Turn:

EA even transformed Geno’s into “Steakquon’s” this week to celebrate the cover reveal.
Madden NFL 26 hits stores August 14.

Saquon Barkley gets the Madden 26 Cover and a Geno’s Takeover >>

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