Myth or reality? Examining the 'Madden curse' through the past 10 cover stars

For years, the "Madden curse" has loomed ample implicit the iconic NFL video crippled franchise.

Legitimate superstition? Simply a myth? The ethos of the curse is simple: If an NFL subordinate appears connected the screen of Madden successful the summer, the ensuing play is destined to travel with a alteration successful on-field accumulation oregon a limiting injury. But has the alleged curse held up successful caller years?

To observe Saquon Barkley being revealed arsenic the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, here's a look backmost astatine the past 10 Madden screen stars -- not including Madden 23, whose screen creation featured legendary manager John Madden -- and their seasons that followed the game's release.

Madden 25 screen star: Christian McCaffrey

The result: Awarded with the Madden screen favoritism aft a vocation run that earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors, McCaffery struggled with injuries successful 2024. The San Francisco 49ers prima played successful conscionable 4 games and was placed connected injured reserve twice.

Madden 24 screen star: Josh Allen

The result: Allen's play aft being featured connected the screen proved to beryllium thing of a mixed bag. The Buffalo Bills signal-caller combined for 44 touchdowns connected the crushed and done the air. However, helium threw a career-high 18 interceptions.

Madden 22 screen stars: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady

The result: The 2 stars sharing the screen each enjoyed beardown seasons, though neither returned to the Super Bowl aft squaring disconnected against 1 different for the rubric the erstwhile season. The 44-year-old Brady threw for 43 touchdowns, his highest full successful implicit a decade. Mahomes wasn't excessively shabby, either, throwing for 37 TDs.

Madden 21 screen star: Lamar Jackson

The result: Jackson didn't scope the aforesaid heights arsenic his 2019 run that earned him his archetypal league MVP honor, but the Baltimore Ravens prima inactive had an awesome campaign. He threw 26 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,005 yards.

Madden 20 screen star: Patrick Mahomes

The result: Mahomes' archetypal motion arsenic the game's screen prima proved to beryllium a omniscient choice. He followed up his 2018 MVP run with different beardown season, yet capping things disconnected with the archetypal Super Bowl rubric of his career.

Madden 19 screen star: Antonio Brown

The result: The merchandise of Madden 19 preluded the last twelvemonth of Brown's ascendant premier with the Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing his clip successful the Steel City with a flourish. The four-time All-Pro wideout posted his sixth consecutive play with implicit 1,000 receiving yards and a career-best 15 touchdowns.

Madden 18 screen star: Tom Brady

The result: The perennial Pro Bowler made for arsenic harmless of a screen enactment arsenic determination could be, which helium backed up with a beardown 2017 run that included 4,500 yards passing and 32 touchdowns.

Madden 17 screen star: Rob Gronkowski

The result: Another look of the New England Patriots dynasty, Gronkowski struggled with wounded passim the autumn pursuing the merchandise of Madden 17, yet ending his play connected injured reserve. The legendary choky extremity earned a ringing that season, however, arsenic the Patriots came backmost to apical the Atlanta Falcons successful Super Bowl LI.

Madden 16 screen star: Odell Beckham Jr.

The result: One of the astir electrifying players of the 2010s, Beckham recovered himself connected the screen of Madden aft his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. He followed that up with different large season, catching 96 passes for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Madden 15 screen star: Richard Sherman

The result: The Legion of Boom ringleader enactment distant a stellar run aft earning screen honors, intercepting 4 passes en way to a 3rd consecutive first-team All-Pro nod.