It is that time of the season again. With schedules out and rookie minicamps underway, the excitement is brewing for NFL Madden to soon reveal its newest cover athlete. Going by the reports, out of the many candidates, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is on the list.

According to the NFL .com, there are players like the Los Angeles Rams' quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Seattle Seahawks' wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, given the latest trend, running backs hold a higher chance of getting featured on the cover.

Saquon Barkley landed the cover spot last summer, continuing a streak of running backs featured on the game after Christian McCaffrey received the honor the previous year.

According to EA Sports, they have listed five names who are in contention for the cover of  Madden NFL 27.

The other names in contention include Stafford (Los Angeles Rams), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), and Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns).

Walker’s strong postseason run, including his Super Bowl MVP performance, has strengthened his case for the cover. In the divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers, he managed 19 carries for 116 yards and three rushing scores. He also added three receptions for 29 receiving yards en route to a 41-6 win.

The 25-year-old logged his second 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2025, but he truly shone in the postseason. Overall rating of Walker's is 90 in EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26.

With Walker's name already being discussed for the contention of the NFL Madden 27 cover, it will be interesting to watch how he performs in the camps and, of course, this season.

What Awaits Kenneth Walker III in His First Chiefs Season

During Walker’s tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, American Football fans have witnessed one of his great performances, which led to his MVP in the Super Bowl.

In just four seasons, Walker has established himself as a key offensive weapon, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards twice and scoring 31 career touchdowns.

Walker will face off against his former team in Week 7 at Lumen Field on Sunday Night Football.

At just 25 years old, Walker is in his prime and is going to play with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Without Mahomes, Walker will have to step up and carry a heavy load in the first phase of the season. It will be interesting to watch how Head Coach Reid leans heavily on Walker.

With his Super Bowl-winning season, Walker now heads into 2026 as both a key figure for the Chiefs and a strong contender for the Madden NFL 27 cover.

Share your thoughts on whether Walker will be the one to get featured on the cover.

Read more at Kansas City Chiefs Community.

Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar