For many years, the so-called “Madden curse” has cast a shadow over the renowned NFL gaming franchise in the USA, particularly in the 2025 gaming landscape.
Is it a genuine superstition or merely a myth? The premise behind the curse is straightforward: an NFL player featured on the cover of Madden during the summer is likely to face a decline in performance or suffer an injury during the following season. But has this supposed curse borne fruit in recent years?
As we gear up to celebrate Saquon Barkley’s announcement as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, let’s take a retrospective look at the last decade of Madden cover stars—noting that Madden 23 featured the legendary coach John Madden—and examine the seasons they endured following their cover appearances.
Madden 25 cover star: Christian McCaffrey
The outcome: After an explosive season that earned him the Offensive Player of the Year title, McCaffrey faced significant injury setbacks in 2024, managing to appear in just four games and being placed on injured reserve twice.
Madden 24 cover star: Josh Allen
The outcome: Allen’s following season was a mixed experience. While he combined for 44 touchdowns, he also recorded a career-high 18 interceptions, showcasing a season of highs and lows.
Madden 22 cover stars: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady
The outcome: Both legends delivered strong performances, although neither made a return to the Super Bowl after their clash the prior season. Brady, at 44, threw for 43 touchdowns—the most in over a decade—while Mahomes notched 37 touchdowns of his own.
Madden 21 cover star: Lamar Jackson
The outcome: Although Jackson’s performance didn’t quite match his MVP-winning season in 2019, his stats remained impressive with 26 touchdown passes and over 1,000 rushing yards.
Madden 20 cover star: Patrick Mahomes
The outcome: Mahomes’ debut as the cover athlete proved to be remarkably prophetic, as he followed his MVP season in 2018 with another standout performance and secured his first Super Bowl title.
Madden 19 cover star: Antonio Brown
The outcome: The launch of Madden 19 marked the tail end of Brown’s dominant tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he logged his sixth successive season exceeding 1,000 receiving yards, capping it off with a career-high 15 touchdowns.
Madden 18 cover star: Tom Brady
The outcome: As a cover choice, Brady was a reliable pick, showcasing a phenomenal 2017 season with 4,500 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.
Madden 17 cover star: Rob Gronkowski
The outcome: Gronkowski, a pivotal figure in the New England Patriots dynasty, battled injuries throughout the 2016-17 season, ultimately landing on injured reserve. Still, he celebrated a Super Bowl victory that year with the Patriots’ historic comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
Madden 16 cover star: Odell Beckham Jr.
The outcome: One of the most dynamic players of the last decade, Beckham graced the cover after a sensational Offensive Rookie of the Year season, following it up with another stellar performance, totaling 96 receptions for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Madden 15 cover star: Richard Sherman
The outcome: After earning the cover spot, the leader of the Legion of Boom had an exceptional season, recording four interceptions yet again earning himself a first-team All-Pro selection for the third year in a row.