Caleb Williams brought Michael Jordan into his Madden NFL 27 cover reveal, intentionally designing the image as a tribute to the legendary Chicago Bulls player and the iconic 1985 Air Jordan Jumpman poster that defined a generation.
Quick Facts
- Williams is the first Chicago Bears player to grace a Madden cover
- The cover features his jump pass from the Bears’ wild-card playoff victory over the Packers
- The Chicago skyline was Williams’ specific request to echo Jordan’s original Jumpman campaign
- Williams said a meeting with Jordan is “in the works”
EA Sports announced Williams as the cover athlete on June 3, with the design capturing his explosive fourth-down throw from Chicago’s come-from-behind playoff win in the 2025 wild-card round. But the quarterback wanted more than just his athletic moment—he wanted to honor the player who shaped Chicago’s sports legacy.
“That’s the position I want to be in, but I also wanted to pay respect to MJ,” Williams said Thursday evening at EA Sports’ season-opening event at Chicago’s Navy Pier, according to ESPN. “It was more of a respect thing. Bringing retro back, not letting people forget that and doing it on my side of the world of football.”
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The original 1985 Air Jordan poster captured Jordan midair in his signature Jumpman silhouette with the sun setting over Chicago’s skyscrapers in the background. Jordan won six NBA championships with the Bulls between 1991 and 1998. Williams hopes to achieve similar success for the Bears, a franchise that won its first playoff game in 15 years last season.
The 24-year-old quarterback, in his third NFL season, classified the Madden cover as “another steppingstone” toward his lofty goals. He also proclaimed after watching the game’s trailer—which featured him alongside actor Vince Vaughn—that he wants to earn the cover again, a feat achieved only by Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.
When asked by a fan whether he would break the perceived “Madden curse,” where cover athletes sometimes struggle the following season, Williams pointed and said “Damn right,” signaling his confidence heading into 2026.
Sources
- ESPN — Caleb Williams’ cover design, Jordan tribute, and direct quotes from the EA Sports event
- NFL.com — Announcement of Williams as Madden NFL 27 cover athlete and first Bears player to achieve the honor
- EA Sports — Official press release naming Williams as cover athlete and confirming the game reveal
