For years, the “Madden curse” has loomed large over the iconic NFL video game franchise.
Legitimate superstition? Simply a myth? The ethos of the curse is simple: If an NFL player appears on the cover of Madden in the summer, the ensuing season is destined to come with a decrease in on-field production or a limiting injury. But has the alleged curse held up in recent years?
To celebrate Saquon Barkley being revealed as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 26, here’s a look back at the past 10 Madden cover stars — not including Madden 23, whose cover art featured legendary coach John Madden — and their seasons that followed the game’s release.
Madden 25 cover star: Christian McCaffrey
The result: Awarded with the Madden cover distinction after a career campaign that earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors, McCaffery struggled with injuries in 2024. The San Francisco 49ers star played in just four games and was placed on injured reserve twice.
Madden 24 cover star: Josh Allen
The result: Allen’s season after being featured on the cover proved to be something of a mixed bag. The Buffalo Bills signal-caller combined for 44 touchdowns on the ground and through the air. However, he threw a career-high 18 interceptions.
Madden 22 cover stars: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady
The result: The two stars sharing the cover each enjoyed strong seasons, though neither returned to the Super Bowl after squaring off against one another for the title the previous season. The 44-year-old Brady threw for 43 touchdowns, his highest total in over a decade. Mahomes wasn’t too shabby, either, throwing for 37 TDs.
Madden 21 cover star: Lamar Jackson
The result: Jackson didn’t reach the same heights as his 2019 campaign that earned him his first league MVP honor, but the Baltimore Ravens star still had an impressive campaign. He threw 26 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,005 yards.
Madden 20 cover star: Patrick Mahomes
The result: Mahomes’ first nod as the game’s cover star proved to be a wise choice. He followed up his 2018 MVP campaign with another strong season, eventually capping things off with the first Super Bowl title of his career.
Madden 19 cover star: Antonio Brown
The result: The release of Madden 19 preluded the final year of Brown’s dominant prime with the Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing his time in the Steel City with a flourish. The four-time All-Pro wideout posted his sixth consecutive season with over 1,000 receiving yards and a career-best 15 touchdowns.
Madden 18 cover star: Tom Brady
The result: The perennial Pro Bowler made for as safe of a cover selection as there could be, which he backed up with a strong 2017 campaign that included 4,500 yards passing and 32 touchdowns.
Madden 17 cover star: Rob Gronkowski
The result: Another face of the New England Patriots dynasty, Gronkowski struggled with injury throughout the fall following the release of Madden 17, eventually ending his season on injured reserve. The legendary tight end earned a ring that season, however, as the Patriots came back to top the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
Madden 16 cover star: Odell Beckham Jr.
The result: One of the most electrifying players of the 2010s, Beckham found himself on the cover of Madden after his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. He followed that up with another great season, catching 96 passes for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Madden 15 cover star: Richard Sherman
The result: The Legion of Boom ringleader put forth a stellar campaign after earning cover honors, intercepting four passes en route to a third consecutive first-team All-Pro nod.