As is tradition, getting picked for the annual Madden cover is the best sign an NFL player has become mainstream. That should make San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey’s selection for Madden 25 not the least bit surprising.
What is surprising is that McCaffrey’s running back position hasn’t been featured on the famed video game cover in a long time. In fact, with McCaffrey’s selection, he is the first tailback to be the official Madden athlete since Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders’ joint selection for Madden NFL 25 in 2014. That is likely a statement on how runners have been de-emphasized in the NFL over the last decade, making McCaffrey’s cover boy look all the more impressive.
In other words, running backs are making their comeback! (Maybe.)
With McCaffrey officially representing Madden now, here are the six other running backs to appear on the worldwide cover in the game’s illustrious, extended history.
1. Madden 2001 — Eddie George, Tennessee Titans
The first Madden on the PlayStation 2 featured George, a four-time Pro Bowler and former First-Team All-Pro for the Tennessee Titans.
2. Madden 2003 — Marshall Faulk, St Louis. Rams
Near the end of “The Greatest Show on Turf” offense in St. Louis, the Rams finally had their rightful poster boy in do-it-all running back Marshall Faulk.
3. Madden 2007 — Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks
The 2005 MVP finally got his virtual flowers with a Madden cover later that summer.
4. Madden 12 — Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns
At the height of his bruising phenomenon in Cleveland, Hillis won a fan vote to notch this early 2010s cover.
5. Madden NFL 25 — Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (Xbox One and PlayStation 4)
In celebration of Madden’s 25th anniversary, the decorated Peterson debuted on the then-next-gen cover.
6. Madden NFL 2000/25 — Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3)
Sanders is the rare NFL star to have technically been featured on two Madden covers. He was in the background of Madden 2000 and then won a fan vote for the 25th-anniversary edition on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.
