Madden 27 – Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is set to be the face of EA Sports’ “Madden NFL 27,” chosen after a standout 2025 season that included an 11-6 record, an NFC North title, and the franchise’s first playoff win since 2010. The cover is a first for a Bea
Caleb Williams didn’t just hear that he’d been chosen for the cover of Madden NFL 27—he described it like waking up inside a childhood obsession.
EA Sports announced June 3 that the Chicago Bears quarterback would grace the 2026 cover of the popular video game franchise. Williams. in an EA Sports press release. said the moment felt “like my childhood dream was coming true. ” adding that being on the cover is “a full circle moment.” He also said he believes fans will enjoy what’s new in this year’s game and is already looking toward the season’s biggest bragging right: “getting my rating up to a 99 by the end of the season.”.
The timing matters to Bears fans and to the NFL world watching Williams’ rise. He was selected after completing 58.1% of his passes for 3,942 yards, throwing 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2025. That production helped lift Chicago to an 11-6 record. an NFC North title. and the team’s first playoff victory since 2010.
The playoff win came in a 31-27 wild-card victory over the rival Green Bay Packers.
EA Sports is leaning into signature moments. The game’s cover art will showcase Williams’ signature mid-air throw on the Standard Edition. The Deluxe Edition will include his iconic “Iceman” celebration and custom nail art featuring the EA Sports logo.
Williams’ selection is also a milestone in the Madden cover history. He will be the first Bears player to ever appear on the cover of a Madden game. He is also the first quarterback to earn that honor since Josh Allen appeared on Madden 24, which was released in 2023.
The game will also establish a clear starting point for his in-game spotlight: Williams will be designated with a 90 overall rating to start the season, as revealed following the cover announcement.
That places Williams in a long-running tradition—dating back to Madden putting an athlete on the cover in 2000. Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George was chosen to front “Madden 2001.” Since then. each year has carried a different kind of star power. spanning quarterbacks. defenders. and skill-position highlights.
From Daunte Culpepper on Madden 2002. to Michael Vick on Madden 2004. to Drew Brees on Madden 11. the cover winners have often mirrored the league’s headline figures at the moment. In recent years. the cover list has become especially quarterback-heavy: Lamar Jackson earned the spot for Madden 21. and Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady shared Madden 22.
The last few years also show the franchise’s rotating focus across eras—John Madden appeared on Madden 23, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach, followed by Josh Allen on Madden 24, Christian McCaffrey on Madden 25, and Saquon Barkley on Madden 26.
In Madden’s ongoing catalog of cover athletes, Caleb Williams is now set to take his place as Madden 27’s 2026 entry.
Madden cover athletes by year:
Madden first put an athlete on the cover in 2000, when Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George was chosen to front “Madden 2001.” Below is a look at everyone who has earned the cover art nod since then.
Madden 2001 (2000): Eddie George, RB, Tennessee Titans Madden 2002 (2001): Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota Vikings Madden 2003 (2002): Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis Rams Madden 2004 (2003): Michael Vick. QB. Atlanta Falcons Madden 2005 (2004): Ray Lewis. LB. Baltimore Ravens Madden 06 (2005): Donovan McNabb. QB. Philadelphia Eagles Madden 07 (2006): Shaun Alexander. RB. Seattle Seahawks Madden 08 (2007): Vince Young. QB. Tennessee Titans Madden 09 (2008): Brett Favre. QB. Green Bay Packers Madden
10 (2009): Troy Polamalu. S. Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald. WR. Arizona Cardinals Madden 11 (2010): Drew Brees. QB. New Orleans Saints Madden 12 (2011): Peyton Hillis. RB. Cleveland Browns Madden 13 (2012): Calvin Johnson. WR. Detroit Lions Madden 25 (2013): Barry Sanders. RB. Detroit Lions Madden 25 (2013): Adrian Peterson. RB. Minnesota Vikings Madden 15 (2014): Richard Sherman. CB. Seattle Seahawks Madden 16 (2015): Odell Beckham Jr. WR. New York Giants Madden 17 (2016):
Rob Gronkowski. TE. New England Patriots Madden 18 (2017): Tom Brady. QB. New England Patriots Madden 19 (2018): Antonio Brown. WR. Pittsburgh Steelers Madden 20 (2019): Patrick Mahomes. QB. Kansas City Chiefs Madden 21 (2020): Lamar Jackson. QB. Baltimore Ravens Madden 22 (2021): Patrick Mahomes. QB. Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady. QB. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Madden 23 (2022): John Madden. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Madden 24 (2023): Josh Allen. QB. Buffalo Bills
Madden 25 (2024): Christian McCaffrey. RB. San Francisco 49ers Madden 26 (2025): Saquon Barkley. RB. Philadelphia Eagles Madden 27 (2026): Caleb Williams. QB. Chicago Bears.
Madden 27 Madden NFL 27 cover Caleb Williams Chicago Bears EA Sports video game news NFL quarterback NFL playoffs Green Bay Packers
So it’s just Madden getting paid to hype Caleb now?
I don’t even play Madden but I saw the headline and it’s kinda cool. The “99 by the end of the season” thing sounds like it’s already guaranteed lol.
Wait does he mean 99 overall in the game or his real life rating? Because if it’s in real life then that’s wild, like he’s gonna just become unstoppable. Also isn’t the Packers game score still gonna be 31-27 no matter what? I’m confused.
EA always picks the hottest QB and calls it “childhood dreams,” but it’s basically marketing. Deluxe Edition with the Iceman celebration and nail art??? Why are we customizing nails in a football game lol. I guess I get it though, Bears needed a win since forever, and they finally did, so of course Madden would jump on that. Also 58.1% sounds low to me but I’m not a stat person.