Jared RamseyDetroit Free Press
The next iteration of the "Madden" video game franchise will arrive soon with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey gracing the cover for the first time in his career. Of course, with that honor always comes the question: What about the Madden curse?
McCaffrey, an All-Pro running back for San Francisco and widely considered a top running back in the league, is the first 49ers player to grace the cover and first running back on the cover since Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders and former Lion Adrian Peterson were on separate copies for the 25th-anniversary edition of Madden, also named Madden 25, released in 2014.
CALVIN JOHNSON: Single-season receiving record 'bound to fall,' honored by NFL alum
There is a long-running belief that whichever NFL player is chosen by EA Sports as the Madden cover athlete is doomed to have a disappointing season or, even worse, a real-life injury. While there may be a few examples of some bad luck for players on the cover, in actuality, the curse is all but dead. Maybe EA Sports got better at picking their players, or maybe the curse was broken.
Either way, here is a look at the previous 10 cover athletes and how they did in the ensuing season.
Madden NFL 24: Josh Allen
Allen was the only player not named Lamar Jackson to receive a first-place MVP vote last season and finished fifth in the overall voting, so it's safe to say he impressed. The Bills quarterback threw for 4,306 yards with 29 touchdowns while rushing for 524 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading the Bills to a division title. That's a pretty good season. Verdict: Not cursed.
Madden NFL 23: John Madden
The legendary broadcaster and head coach was honored by the series named after him in the edition released in 2022 after he died at the end of 2021. Verdict: N/A.
NEW LEG IN TOWN: Detroit Lions reportedly request workout with Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates
Madden NFL 22: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes
The two quarterbacks who have combined for 10 Super Bowl wins in the 21st century were on the cover of Madden 22, in Brady's final season. In 2021, Brady led the NFL in completions (485), touchdowns (43) and yards (5,316) while taking the Buccaneers to the playoffs. Mahomes threw for 4,839 yards and 37 touchdowns while reaching the AFC championship game. Verdict: For ordinary QBs, this would be pretty good, but for these guys, this may have been a cursed season.
Madden NFL 21: Lamar Jackson
The reigning MVP was on the Madden cover released in 2020, a peak time for video games during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Jackson threw for 2,757 yards with 26 passing touchdowns while running for 1,005 yards and seven rushing touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens finished 11-5. Verdict: Not cursed.
Madden NFL 20: Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes' first time on the cover came after he lit the league on fire in his first year as a starting quarterback in 2018. In his encore in 2019, Mahomes won his first Super Bowl after being named the cover athlete. He threw for 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns in 14 games. Verdict: Not cursed.
Madden NFL 19: Antonio Brown
The former Central Michigan standout made the cover before his final season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2018, Brown had 104 catches for 1,297 receiving yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns. However, his career dove off a cliff after the 2018 season, as he never topped 600 yards in a season again. Verdict: Eventually cursed.
ALL ABOUT THE CULTURE: One Detroit Lions player worked and worked by himself way after practice. I found out why.
Madden NFL 18:Tom Brady
Brady's first appearance came in the version released after the 2016 season when the Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit to win the Super Bowl. Brady was named NFL MVP in 2017, throwing for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns, but lost in the Super Bowl to the Eagles. Verdict: Not cursed, but that Super Bowl sure was weird.
Madden NFL 17:Rob Gronkowski
Brady's favorite target, Gronkowski, was the cover athlete a year prior. In 2016, Gronkowski only appeared in eight games because of injury, finishing with 540 yards, three touchdowns. That's not great by Gronk's standards, but he did end up getting a Super Bowl ring. Verdict: Not cursed.
Madden NFL 16:Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham was the cover athlete after an electrifying rookie season made him one of the most popular athletes and known everywhere for his ability to catch anything. In his sophom*ore campaign, Beckham improved, finishing with 96 catches for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns to earn All-Pro honors. Verdict: Not cursed.
Madden NFL 15:Richard Sherman
The only defensive player in the past decade, Sherman was put on the cover as the face of the Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" secondary. In 2014, Sherman was a first-team All-Pro with four interceptions, eight passes broken up and 57 total tackles. Verdict: Not cursed.
