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The NFL offseason is full of notable events like free agency in March, and the draft in April, as well as OTA's but some fans look forward to the day the "Madden" cover athlete is announced.In the 26 editions since the "Madden" cover featured an athlete, 12 quarterbacks have graced the video game's cover. If rumors are to be believed, lucky No. 13 will be Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.Yet to be confirmed by EA Sports, this rumor began circulating on social media Saturday, May 30 with an image showing Williams performing his "Iceman" gesture.If this were to come to fruition next week, when EA Sports is expected to reveal Madden 27 and College Football 27 at an event in Chicago on June 4, then Williams would become the first Bears player to be on the cover of Madden.It remains to be seen until EA Sports makes an official announcement, which typically happens in early June.Williams made a significant leap in his third NFL season, as Chicago finished 11-6 and earned its first NFC North title since 2018. He was seventh in the NFL with 3,942 passing yards and sixth with 27 passing touchdowns. The former No. 1 pick led the NFL with six fourth-quarter comebacks.Every year, EA Sports faces a challenging decision when releasing the latest edition of its popular "Madden" NFL video game franchise: Who will be the cover athlete?For Madden 26, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was chosen for the cover. He earned this honor after winning a Super Bowl and achieving the NFL's ninth-ever 2,000-yard rushing season.Now, as Madden 27 prepares to announce the cover athlete for 2026, the options are wide open, featuring some of the league's top quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs, as well as two stars coming off record-setting seasons.The potential cover candidates are stacked with notable names who should be on Madden's radar as the game's developers assess who should represent it.With Williams still not confirmed for the Madden 27 cover, here's a look at other top options:Madden cover candidatesMatthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles RamsJoe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati BengalsSam Darnold, QB, Seattle SeahawksDrake Maye, QB, New England PatriotsJustin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles ChargersTrevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville JaguarsCaleb Williams, QB, Chicago BearsJaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle SeahawksJustin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota VikingsJa'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati BengalsDerrick Henry, RB, Baltimore RavensJahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit LionsBijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta FalconsTrey McBride, TE, Arizona CardinalsMyles Garrett, edge, Cleveland BrownsMadden cover athletes by yearMadden 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 all the people who have earned the cover art nod since then.Madden 2001 (2000): Eddie George, RB, Tennessee TitansMadden 2002 (2001): Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota VikingsMadden 2003 (2002): Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis RamsMadden 2004 (2003): Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta FalconsMadden 2005 (2004): Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore RavensMadden 06 (2005): Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia EaglesMadden 07 (2006): Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle SeahawksMadden 08 (2007): Vince Young, QB, Tennessee TitansMadden 09 (2008): Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay PackersMadden 10 (2009): Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona CardinalsMadden 11 (2010): Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans SaintsMadden 12 (2011): Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland BrownsMadden 13 (2012): Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit LionsMadden 25 (2013): Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit LionsMadden 25 (2013): Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota VikingsMadden 15 (2014): Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle SeahawksMadden 16 (2015): Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York GiantsMadden 17 (2016): Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England PatriotsMadden 18 (2017): Tom Brady, QB, New England PatriotsMadden 19 (2018): Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersMadden 20 (2019): Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City ChiefsMadden 21 (2020): Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore RavensMadden 22 (2021): Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay BuccaneersMadden 23 (2022): John Madden, Pro Football Hall of Fame coachMadden 24 (2023): Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo BillsMadden 25 (2024): Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ersMadden 26 (2025): Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
