Is the 'Madden curse' real? Here's how the last 15 cover athletes have fared.
Saquon Barkley, backward hurdle and all, was unveiled as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, which will be released this summer. However, there's been a curse associated with those who appeared on the cover of the popular video game. But is it real? Either way, Barkley said Monday that he isn't worried about it.
Saquon Barkley, backward hurdle and all, was unveiled as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, which will be released this summer. However, there's been a curse associated with those who appeared on the cover of the popular video game. But is it real? Either way, Barkley said Monday that he isn't worried about it.
What does Saquon think?
“If anything, I feel like I ran out of curses,” Barkley said at Geno's, which had been rebranded as Steakquon's. “I’ve been injured a lot. Tore my knee, had multiple ankle injuries. It’s part of the game, it’s part of football, and one that I can do is train and get myself ready to perform at a high level for my team. I can only control what I can control. I’m not focused on the 'Madden curse.' I’m focused on being on Madden and the opportunity of being on the cover of Madden and attaching my name to icons and legends.”
While Barkley isn't letting a potential curse ruin his moment, should Eagles fans be worried? Here's how cover athletes have fared over the last 15 years.
2010: Drew Brees, 'Madden NFL 11'
Coming off back-to-back All-Pro seasons and a Super Bowl XLIV win, Brees defied the "Madden curse" with another Pro Bowl season in 2010. But while he threw 33 touchdowns, Brees did toss a career-high 22 interceptions that year.
2010: Drew Brees, 'Madden NFL 11'
Coming off back-to-back All-Pro seasons and a Super Bowl XLIV win, Brees defied the "Madden curse" with another Pro Bowl season in 2010. But while he threw 33 touchdowns, Brees did toss a career-high 22 interceptions that year.
2011: Peyton Hillis, 'Madden NFL 12'
Hillis, a fullback-turned-running back, shockingly won a nationwide fan vote to grace the game's cover. Fresh off an 1,100-yard season with the Browns, he bested Eagles QB Mike Vick in the finals but never eclipsed 600 yards again.
2011: Peyton Hillis, 'Madden NFL 12'
Hillis, a fullback-turned-running back, shockingly won a nationwide fan vote to grace the game's cover. Fresh off an 1,100-yard season with the Browns, he bested Eagles QB Mike Vick in the finals but never eclipsed 600 yards again.
2012: Calvin Johnson, 'Madden NFL 13'
The "Madden curse" apparently doesn't apply to Transformers, as "Megatron" set an NFL record with 1,964 receiving yards after winning the fan vote to be on the cover. The future Hall of Famer also led the league with 122 catches that year.
2012: Calvin Johnson, 'Madden NFL 13'
The "Madden curse" apparently doesn't apply to Transformers, as "Megatron" set an NFL record with 1,964 receiving yards after winning the fan vote to be on the cover. The future Hall of Famer also led the league with 122 catches that year.
2013: Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders, 'Madden NFL 25'
For the game's 25th anniversary, EA Sports did two covers, one with Sanders, and an alternate with Peterson. After surpassing 2,000 yards and winning MVP in 2012, "AD" ran for a mere mortal 1,266 yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2013.
2013: Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders, 'Madden NFL 25'
For the game's 25th anniversary, EA Sports did two covers, one with Sanders, and an alternate with Peterson. After surpassing 2,000 yards and winning MVP in 2012, "AD" ran for a mere mortal 1,266 yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2013.
2014: Richard Sherman, 'Madden NFL 15'
The brash cornerback backed up his selection as just the third defensive player to grace the cover with a third straight All-Pro nod. But Sherman's season ended in meme disbelief as the Patriots stunned the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
2014: Richard Sherman, 'Madden NFL 15'
The brash cornerback backed up his selection as just the third defensive player to grace the cover with a third straight All-Pro nod. But Sherman's season ended in meme disbelief as the Patriots stunned the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
2015: Odell Beckham Jr., 'Madden NFL 16'
Beckham earned the cover nod in just his second season after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and EA Sports' fan vote. He more than lived up to the hype with 96 catches, 1,450 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 2015.
2015: Odell Beckham Jr., 'Madden NFL 16'
Beckham earned the cover nod in just his second season after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and EA Sports' fan vote. He more than lived up to the hype with 96 catches, 1,450 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 2015.
2016: Rob Gronkowski, 'Madden NFL 17'
After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Gronkowski became the first tight end to land on the game's cover. But he was limited to eight games that season due to injuries. A Super Bowl ring served as a silver lining.
2016: Rob Gronkowski, 'Madden NFL 17'
After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Gronkowski became the first tight end to land on the game's cover. But he was limited to eight games that season due to injuries. A Super Bowl ring served as a silver lining.
2017: Tom Brady, 'Madden NFL 18'
There was no "Madden curse" for the G.O.A.T., as Brady won the MVP after a stellar 2017. But Nick Foles, Brandon Graham, and the Eagles would have the last laugh in Super Bowl LII in an offensive shootout for the ages.
2017: Tom Brady, 'Madden NFL 18'
There was no "Madden curse" for the G.O.A.T., as Brady won the MVP after a stellar 2017. But Nick Foles, Brandon Graham, and the Eagles would have the last laugh in Super Bowl LII in an offensive shootout for the ages.
2018: Antonio Brown, 'Madden NFL 19'
Brown's very public fall from grace has been swift and dramatic, but there's no blaming Madden. The five-time All-Pro racked up 1,297 receiving yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns during his cover season.
2018: Antonio Brown, 'Madden NFL 19'
Brown's very public fall from grace has been swift and dramatic, but there's no blaming Madden. The five-time All-Pro racked up 1,297 receiving yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns during his cover season.
2019: Patrick Mahomes, 'Madden NFL 20'
One season as a starter, 50 touchdown passes, and an MVP award were all Mahomes needed to land the cover. It proved a wise choice for EA Sports, as Mahomes, despite a drop statistically, won his first Super Bowl.
2019: Patrick Mahomes, 'Madden NFL 20'
One season as a starter, 50 touchdown passes, and an MVP award were all Mahomes needed to land the cover. It proved a wise choice for EA Sports, as Mahomes, despite a drop statistically, won his first Super Bowl.
2020: Lamar Jackson, 'Madden NFL 21'
After winning the MVP and breaking the record for rushing yards by a QB in 2019, Jackson was the cover man for Madden 21. While Jackson didn't have an MVP-type season, he had another highly productive campaign with 33 total touchdowns.
2020: Lamar Jackson, 'Madden NFL 21'
After winning the MVP and breaking the record for rushing yards by a QB in 2019, Jackson was the cover man for Madden 21. While Jackson didn't have an MVP-type season, he had another highly productive campaign with 33 total touchdowns.
2021: Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, 'Madden NFL 22'
If ever there was a cover slam dunk, Brady and Mahomes were probably it. Brady, then 44, threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns, while Mahomes didn't trail far behind with 4,839 and 37 scores. Talk about reversing the curse.
2021: Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, 'Madden NFL 22'
If ever there was a cover slam dunk, Brady and Mahomes were probably it. Brady, then 44, threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns, while Mahomes didn't trail far behind with 4,839 and 37 scores. Talk about reversing the curse.
2022: John Madden, 'Madden NFL 23'
EA paid tribute to Madden himself in 2023, putting him on the cover of the game after he died in December 2021. His legend lives on.
2022: John Madden, 'Madden NFL 23'
EA paid tribute to Madden himself in 2023, putting him on the cover of the game after he died in December 2021. His legend lives on.
2023: Josh Allen, 'Madden NFL 24'
It was Allen's turn in 2024 after another top-three finish in MVP voting the year before. The Buffalo Bills star finished fifth in the MVP race in 2023 after accounting for 44 total TDs, but his 18 interceptions were a career high.
2023: Josh Allen, 'Madden NFL 24'
It was Allen's turn in 2024 after another top-three finish in MVP voting the year before. The Buffalo Bills star finished fifth in the MVP race in 2023 after accounting for 44 total TDs, but his 18 interceptions were a career high.
2024: Christian McCaffrey, 'Madden NFL 25'
The recency bias is certainly there with the "Madden curse," as last year's cover athlete McCaffrey endured a wretched season before it even started. After a banner 2023 campaign, McCaffrey was limited to just four games due to injury.
2024: Christian McCaffrey, 'Madden NFL 25'
The recency bias is certainly there with the "Madden curse," as last year's cover athlete McCaffrey endured a wretched season before it even started. After a banner 2023 campaign, McCaffrey was limited to just four games due to injury.