Making the cover of a video game is a huge accomplishment, especially within the sports gaming genre. It’s not just a huge endorsement from a gaming publisher trying to peddle a product to the masses — it also makes that player the de facto face of their sports. You know, the kind of face that becomes synonymous with even the most casual of casuals. But what if that prestigious distinction comes with a massive trade-off, like a so-called “curse”?
Earlier today, it was announced that Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley would be on the cover of the upcoming Madden 26. And rightfully so. Barkley is coming off a career year in which he won the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, won a Super Bowl, and rushed for over 2,000 yards, a feat that has only been done 9 times in NFL history.
Despite having a generational year rewarded with a spot on the Madden 26 cover, some Eagles fans might feel a bit weird about it due to the “Madden Curse.” But what is the Madden Curse, and is it an actual things?
What Is The Madden Curse?
When the series first began, Madden didn’t use cover athletes. Instead, the eponymous John Madden graced each cover. It wasn’t until 1998 when EA began using cover athletes for the series, and even then, it was only for the PAL region of the games. Beginning with Eddie George in 2000, however, Madden has had an NFL player (or multiple players) on the cover of each of the games.
However, an old superstition holds that gracing the cover of Madden is considered bad luck and results in a decline in performance. It started with the first-ever cover athlete, Eddie George. Despite posting over 1,500 yards during the Tennessee Titans’ 2001 season, George also had a career-high in fumbles. The Titans finished with a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs. George’s next two seasons with the Titans were average at best, before one final mediocre season with the Cowboys marked the end of his career.
George isn’t the only example, either. Madden 2004 saw Mike Vick grace its cover. Unfortunately, Vick fractured his tibia during a preseason game and missed most of the 2003 season.
Those are two pretty big examples that might lead one to think that something is afoot. But is that indicative of a curse? Well, about that…
Many Players Have Had Dominant Seasons After Gracing The Madden Cover
Is the Madden Curse real? Well, if it is, nobody told these guys, who are among the most dominant cover athletes of all time.
The first player to really put all of the Madden Curse stuff to bed was Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson in 2013. After gracing the cover of Madden NFL 13, “Megatron” went on to set a single-season record for receiving yards. Just a few short years later, the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman, who appeared on Madden 15’s cover, recorded 4 interceptions and 57 tackles in a season where the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl, only to lose on one of the worst play calls ever.
Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Tom Brady also got a chance to be on the cover for Madden 18, a season in which he threw 32 touchdowns, won MVP, and led the Patriots to yet another Super Bowl (though they would lose).
So no, the Madden Curse isn’t a real thing. If Saquon Barkley’s 2025 season is to result in failure, it will be due to completely other reasons.
