Madden NFL 27’s standard cover was inspired by which basketball player’s famous pose?

Madden NFL 27’s standard cover was inspired by Michael Jordan’s famous pose.

The cover shows Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throwing a pass while jumping in front of the Chicago skyline. The composition echoes the visual language of Jordan’s iconic Jumpman imagery, linking a football game to one of basketball’s most recognizable sports designs.

The resemblance is intentional rather than incidental. Williams is presented in a leaping, airborne pose modeled after the advertisements associated with Jordan’s Air Jordan brand and the Jumpman silhouette.

This cover also has a separate historical distinction: Williams became the first Chicago Bears player to appear on the game’s standard cover. That fact is different from the artistic inspiration behind the pose.