Does the 'Madden NFL' Cover Curse Still Exist? A Look Back at 25 Years of Covers After Christian McCaffrey Nod

If you're a football fan, there's hardly a chance you haven't heard of the "Madden" curse. The apparent and infamous jinx goes like this: The player featured on the Madden 25 coins cover of EA Sports' annual NFL video game is doomed to encounter something vile, such as a decline in performance or a serious injury. Superstition at its finest. The San Francisco 49ers are one team that surely hopes the curse isn't real, with reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey tabbed as this year's cover star.

EA itself has publicly denied the existence of the curse, which tells you everything you need to know about its popularity. Others, like cover athletes themselves, have panned the annual hullabaloo as a myth. And yet, whether you genuinely fear your favorite team suffering at the hands of "Madden" or find it all ridiculously silly, the curse has never quite gone away. Or has it?

Let's review the fate of all 25 of the cover athletes since 2000, using the years from the "Madden" titles (2024's game is "Madden 25"), to find a verdict:

2001: Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George
George went on to rush for more than 1,500 yards in his cover season, but he also lost a career-high number of fumbles, coughed up the ball in the Titans' season-ending playoff game, and never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry for the rest of his career.
Verdict: Cursed

2002: Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper
After throwing 33 touchdowns and going 11-5 as a first-time starter in 2000, Culpepper took a nosedive during his cover season. Injuries cost him six games, he fumbled 16 times, threw just 14 touchdowns compared to 13 picks, and went 4-7 in his starts.
Verdict: Cursed

2003: St. Louis Rams RB Marshall Faulk
Faulk was already a Hall of Fame-caliber talent before gracing the cover, but his cover season marked the beginning of a steep decline. After five straight years of 1,000+ rushing yards, he failed to hit that mark in 2002 and never did again.
Verdict: Cursed

2004: Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick
Just days after the game's release, Vick broke his leg in a preseason game, missing 11 games in the 2003 season. He returned to form later in his career but spent time in prison after a dog-fighting scandal.
Verdict: Cursed

2005: Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis
Lewis had a stellar career overall, but his 2004 season was marred by injury, as he missed the final game of the season and saw the Ravens miss the playoffs.
Verdict: Cursed

2006: Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb
McNabb’s cover season started well, but he suffered a season-ending sports hernia after just nine games. The Eagles missed the playoffs that year.
Verdict: Cursed

2007: Seattle Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander
Coming off an MVP season, Alexander broke his foot in the third game of the season and was never the same player again, struggling with injuries and performance declines.
Verdict: Cursed

2008: Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young
Young had a promising start to his career, but his cover season was rocky with inconsistent play, injury issues, and off-field concerns that derailed his once-promising career.
Verdict: Cursed

2009: Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre
Favre’s cover appearance was unique, as it coincided with his contentious departure from Green Bay and a rollercoaster season with the New York Jets, marked by a late-season collapse and injury.
Verdict: Cursed

2010: Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald & Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu
Fitzgerald remained productive, but Polamalu played in just five games due to injury.
Verdict: Partially Cursed

2011: New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees
Brees enjoyed a solid cover season statistically but threw a career-high 22 interceptions, and the Saints were upset by the 7-9 Seahawks in the playoffs.
Verdict: Partially Cursed

2012: Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis
Hillis had a breakout season in 2010 but struggled with injuries and performance issues after being named the cover athlete, and he never recaptured his prior form.
Verdict: Cursed

2013: Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson
Johnson defied the curse by setting a single-season receiving yards record in his cover season, though the Lions missed the playoffs.
Verdict: Not Cursed

2014: Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
Peterson had a solid season statistically, but his off-field issues, including a child abuse scandal, marred his career.
Verdict: Cursed

2015: Seattle Seahawks CB Richard Sherman
Sherman continued to play at a high level and the Seahawks returned to the Super Bowl, though they suffered a heart-wrenching loss to the Patriots.
Verdict: Not Cursed

2016: New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham had a productive season statistically, but the Giants missed the playoffs, and Beckham's behavior on and off the field drew criticism.
Verdict: Partially Cursed

2017: New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski missed most of the season due to injury, which plagued his career.
Verdict: Cursed

2018: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady
Brady continued to defy the odds, leading the Patriots to another Super Bowl appearance and maintaining elite performance levels.
Verdict: Not Cursed

2019: Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown
Brown's cover season was overshadowed by off-field drama, including a trade demand, conflicts with teammates, and subsequent legal issues.
Verdict: Cursed

2020: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in his cover season, solidifying his status as one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks.
Verdict: Not Cursed

2021: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
Jackson faced some ups and downs but remained a dynamic playmaker, though the Ravens were eliminated early in the playoffs.
Verdict: Partially Cursed

2022: Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady & Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Both players performed well, with Brady continuing his storied career and Mahomes maintaining his elite status, though neither won the Super Bowl.
Verdict: Not Cursed

2023: Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott
Prescott struggled with injuries and inconsistency, and the Cowboys failed to make a deep playoff run.
Verdict: Cursed

2024: San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
The verdict on McCaffrey is still pending, but his history of injuries raises concerns among 49ers fans.

Conclusion
The "Madden" curse, whether you believe in it or not, has left a mixed legacy over the past 25 years. Some athletes have defied the odds, maintaining or even elevating their performance after gracing the cover. Others have succumbed to injuries, performance declines, or off-field issues that have marred their careers.

The curse's impact seems to have lessened in recent years, with more athletes experiencing success rather than misfortune. Yet, the fear and superstition surrounding the "Madden" cover remain a part of NFL culture. As we await the outcome of Christian McCaffrey's season, only time will tell if the curse has truly been broken or if it will strike once again.

Ultimately, the "Madden" cover curse may be more about the pressures Madden nfl 25 coins for sale  and expectations placed on these elite athletes rather than any supernatural influence. Regardless, it continues to be a fascinating aspect of the intersection between sports and popular culture, keeping fans and players alike on edge with each new cover reveal.