Bears QB Caleb Williams’ ‘Madden 27’ cover revealed

It’s official: Caleb Williams is the face of Madden 27.

The quarterback became the first Bears player to ever grace the front of the main edition of the video game Wednesday morning when EA Sports announced him as their choice. They released two covers. On the standard edition of the video game, Williams is pictured throwing a jump pass. On the deluxe edition, Williams is shown rubbing his biceps, the celebration he used that matched his “Iceman” nickname.

The video game will be released Aug. 13.

The Bears won their first playoff game in 15 years last season with Williams under center, but it was the way that he did it that captivated the country, leading the Bears to six comeback victories. His heave to tight end Cole Kmet to tie the Rams in the final seconds of a playoff game was perhaps his most memorable play of the season — though his game-winning throw against the Packers to DJ Moore was named the league’s Moment of the Year. Williams’ jump throw is reminiscent of his playoff pass to receiver Rome Odunze.

In a statement, Williams said that finding out that he was the cover choice “was like my childhood dream was coming true.” He grew up playing the game and called it a “full-circle moment.”

Williams told the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, that the jump-throw photo was inspired by old Michael Jordan Nike ads.

“Him doing his Air Jordan (thing) with the skyline behind it,” Williams said. “I wanted to do the football, kinda bring it back 30 years later, however many years later.”

EA Sports vice president of franchise strategy and marketing Evan Dexter called him the Bears’ “electric, generational quarterback.”

Bears coach Ben Johnson said he saw the cover on Wednesday morning. He believes Williams can handle any attention that comes from it.

“I think he’s wired the right way,” he said.

Images of Williams on the cover leaked on social media over the weekend. An EA Sports event scheduled Thursday in Chicago further tipped off his inclusion.

No Bears player had ever appeared on the cover of the video game, though former Bears center Roberto Garza was on the Spanish-language cover in 2009.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher was on the cover of another series, NFL2K3.

Super Bowl-winning Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was on the cover last year, with Bills quarterback Josh Allen and 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey the two years before.