In the ever-evolving world of the Madden NFL, the selection of its cover athlete is a momentous occasion. However, it can also be an unwanted honor thanks to the dreaded Madden curse. Prior to 1998, the man the game was named after, iconic color commentator John Madden, was the cover star. However, that all changed around the turn of the millennium, and a number of the cover stars have all suffered as a result of being featured front and center.
The likes of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees all had a disastrous season while their face was plastered on billboards advertising the game. However, over the last five years, one could argue there has been a shift in the curse with several featured names still going on to have stellar seasons.
Breaking the Curse – Most Successful Madden Cover Athletes
Madden 21 – Lamar Jackson
The Madden 21 cover featured Lamar Jackson, the dynamic dual-threat QB for the Baltimore Ravens, whose groundbreaking 2019 season redefined being under center. The former Louisville Cardinal’s unique blend of precise passing and electrifying running ability earned him the unanimous MVP award that year, making him an obvious choice for the Madden cover, and EA Sports duly obliged.
However, the 27-year-old would struggle with injury issues and poor form over the three years that followed. To make matters worse, his downturn coincided with the revival of the Cincinnati Bengals, with Joe Burrow leading his side to two straight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl appearance to boot.
Last term, Jackson returned to form and had another MVP-caliber year. But that wasn’t enough to get his side past the Kansas City Chiefs and into the Big Game, instead falling in the AFC championship game. We imagine the odds of Jackson being on the cover of next season’s game will be much shorter.
Madden 22 – Patrick Mahomes & Tom Brady
The following year, Madden 22 broke tradition by featuring two athletes on the cover: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This unprecedented decision captured the essence of the NFL’s past, present, and future. TB12 is often regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time and his younger adversary as the face of the new generation. The pair faced off in the Super Bowl months before the game release, with Brady and the Buccs coming out decisively. But it’s safe to say neither of these two fell victim to the dreaded curse.
Madden 24 – Josh Allen
Madden 23 took a poignant turn, honoring the legacy of John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster, and namesake of the video game series, who passed away in December 2021. For the first time in over two decades, Madden himself graced the cover as a tribute to his immense impact on the game of football and the Madden NFL series. One year on and in the most recent installment of the game, the honor went to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen.
It looked as though the curse would be striking here when the Bills lost half of their opening ten games throughout the 2023 season. However, they bounced back by winning the next six and charging into the postseason as genuine contenders. Unfortunately for them, as was the case with Jackson and the Ravens, they were downed by the eventual champion Chiefs.
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