Most people think of Saquon Barkley and picture the power runs, the hurdles, the quads. But if you zoom out a bit, that athletic grit? It’s kind of a family thing, literally. His father, Alibay Barkley? Well, he boxed. His uncle, Iran? Three-time world champ in the ring. And then there’s Ali, Saquon’s younger brother, who picked up the football torch at Temple, just like big brother.

Then there’s his younger sister, Aliyah Barkley. She didn’t pursue a career in sports, no doubt. But she was a renowned athlete as well. In her high-school days, Aliyah raced in multiple track and field events for Whitehall High, including the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4 x 100 relay, and the long jump. However, Barkley’s younger sister didn’t pursue a long-term career in sports as she moved to West Virginia University in Morgantown in 2020.

Fast forward to now, and Aliyah just graduated from WVU as she’s now heading toward the next chapter of her life. On Wednesday, she took to her IG account to share the news of her graduation. “The end of one chapter, but the beginning of so much more. Thank you, WVU, for the challenges, the growth, and the memories that will last a lifetime,” she captioned her post featuring numerous pictures of her in academic gown.

The moment that wrapped up, Barkley’s Fiancée, Anna Congdon, slid into her comment section and congratulated her with a three-word message. “I love you,” she wrote. Besides, her elder sister, Shaquona Barkley, also chimed in to share a message for her little sister, writing, “a beauty ❤️.”

Though Aliyah joined the WVU back in 2020, and according to her LinkedIn page, her targeted graduation year was 2025, her major is still unclear. As Aliyah is celebrating a big moment in her career, her elder brother and the Eagles‘ running back, Saquon Barkley, is reportedly set to land on the cover of the Madden 2025 edition.

Saquon Barkley to appear on the cover page of Madden 26

The NFL and the Madden video game series have a history together, and we aren’t talking about John Madden’s legacy. Back in ’99, Garrison Hearst became the first NFL player to feature on the cover of the Madden game. Soon after that, he broke his ankle. But the plot thickened as the NFL legends like Michael Vick, Shaun Alexander, and Antonio Brown experienced major injuries and off-field issues following their appearances on the Madden cover.

Hence, it was soon dubbed the Madden Curse. Fast forward to now, and given Saquon Barkley just recorded one of the best seasons of his career, the rumor mill has been buzzing that the Eagles’ running back will appear on the cover of the Madden 2025 edition (Madden 26). Sure, it’s a big milestone for any NFL player to appear on the cover of Madden. But if history has taught us anything, then it’s safe to assume that the Eagles’ fans are probably more tense than happy after hearing this.

But let’s spin it a little more positively. A few years ago, Patrick Mahomes appeared on Madden 20, and sure, he sustained a brief injury. But the kicker? Well, the quarterback broke the so-called Madden Curse after winning the Super Bowl. So, at the end of the day, we can assume or hope (to be precise) that if Saquon Barkley appears on Madden 26, he won’t become the next victim of the Madden Curse.