Caleb Williams Lands First Bears Madden Cover

Sport

By lines

June 3, 2026

The Caleb Williams Madden 27 cover makes the Bears quarterback the first Chicago player honored. EA Sports named Williams the Madden NFL 27 cover athlete. The reveal lands ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

How Caleb Williams Reached the Madden Cover

EA Sports announced Caleb Williams as the Madden NFL 27 cover athlete on June 3. Williams becomes the first Bears player to grace a Madden cover. EA Sports set the full game reveal for June 4. EA Sports scheduled the worldwide launch for August 13. The honor caps a fast rise for Williams.

Caleb Williams enters Madden NFL 27 with a 90 overall rating. Williams said he wants a 99 rating by season’s end. The 90 mark ranks Williams among Madden’s higher-rated quarterbacks. The Standard Edition shows Williams’ signature jump pass. The Deluxe Edition relives Williams’ “Iceman” celebration. The “Iceman” nickname tracks Williams’ calm in late-game moments.

The Standard cover references a fourth-and-8 throw to Rome Odunze. Williams led the Bears back from an 18-point deficit against the Green Bay Packers. The Deluxe cover marks an overtime win over the Packers. Both covers feature the Chicago skyline behind Williams. NFL.com noted Williams channels Michael Jordan in the cover pose. The art frames Williams as the face of the Bears.

EA Sports first issued the Madden cover in 1999 under the John Madden name. Cover athletes carry the long-running “Madden curse” narrative around injuries. Williams now joins that cover lineage as a third-year quarterback. Williams entered the NFL as the 2024 first overall pick. Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy at USC. Williams is the first Bears quarterback to earn the spot.

The reveal drew a split reaction across the NFL fan base. Some fans questioned a cover athlete with one full season played. The cover still gives Chicago a marketable young quarterback. Williams gives EA Sports a high-ceiling face for Madden NFL 27. The pick signals EA Sports’ confidence in the Bears offense. The 90 rating sets a baseline for Williams to climb.

Williams chases a 99 rating through on-field production in 2026. The Bears open camp with Williams as the clear starter. EA Sports will detail gameplay at the June 4 reveal. The August 13 launch sets the on-sale date for Madden NFL 27. Watch whether Williams answers the Madden curse talk on the field.