The History of The Madden Curse 🤯

Being chosen as the cover star for Madden is undeniably one of the biggest honors a player can receive off the football field. For many athletes, it fulfills a childhood dream as they grew up playing the game and idolizing the players featured on the front cover. They now have the opportunity to become that idol themselves. Being selected for the cover signifies being among the elite in the league and essentially becoming the face of the NFL.

With that being said, there exists a significant history associated with being selected as the cover athlete for Madden, and it's not particularly a good one. The Madden cover has garnered a long-standing reputation for being cursed. If you're unfamiliar with the Madden curse, allow me to provide you with all the information you need to know. 👇

This year, the recipient of the Madden curse is Josh Allen. Recognized as one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL for several years, the talented star of the Buffalo Bills has now been bestowed with the curse. Or has he?

Keep reading to discover my thoughts on the Madden curse and its potential impact on Josh Allen's upcoming 2023-24 season.

This will make Allen the first Bills player to grace the main cover. I was shocked to find out this wasn’t the first Bills player to grace the cover. 👇🤣

Actually, in this picture, he might have been considered a Bronco. 🤣 Haha, I’ll stop, and we can get back to why the Madden cover is cursed.

Essentially, the Madden curse refers to a concerning pattern observed among NFL stars who have graced the cover of the Madden video games. Over the years, many players featured on the cover have experienced injuries or underperformed during their respective seasons.

Out of the 26 NFL players who have appeared on the cover of Madden since 1999, a total of 15 have encountered injuries. The curse's origins can be traced back to 1999 when Garrison Hearst became the first cover athlete, as prior to that, only John Madden himself had been featured on the cover.

Madden 1999: Garrison Hearst

Hearst, destined for the Hall of Fame, became the first-ever cover athlete. However, a gruesome ankle injury in the playoffs derailed his career, forever linking his misfortune to the Madden curse.

Madden 2000: Barry Sanders/Dorsey Levens

Sanders, a legendary running back, abruptly retired before the season began. His unexpected departure sparked controversy and mystery surrounding the end of his illustrious career. Levens, his replacement on the cover, saw his last starting season.

Madden 2001: Eddie George

George seemed immune to the curse until a crucial playoff interception cost his team, the Titans, their Super Bowl hopes.

Madden 2002: Daunte Culpepper

Culpepper suffered a season-ending knee injury shortly after appearing on the cover.

Madden 2003: Marshall Faulk

Unfortunately, the season that followed marked the beginning of his decline. Faulk struggled with an ankle injury that visibly slowed him down on the field.

Madden 2004: Michael Vick

Vick broke his fibula the day after the game's release, missing 11 games.

Madden 2005: Ray Lewis

No noticeable curse effects, but Lewis had no interceptions and the Ravens missed the playoffs.

Madden 2006: Donovan McNabb

McNabb's season was derailed by a groin injury and a public feud with teammate Terrell Owens.

Madden 2007: Shaun Alexander

Alexander missed six games with a fractured foot, and his career declined.

Madden 2008: Vince Young

Young suffered a quad injury and faced personal struggles, leading to a decline in performance.

Madden 2009: Brett Favre

After a storied tenure with the Green Bay Packers, Favre retired but then decided to come out of retirement and join the New York Jets. Sound familiar? Lol. Favre being on the cover in a Packers jersey but playing on the Jets in the game was quite funny. Throughout the season, Favre's performance was marred by controversy and retirement contemplation, and he ultimately suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Madden 2010: Larry Fitzgerald & Troy Polamalu

In an effort to break the curse, Madden NFL 2010 featured two cover athletes, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both players were highly respected and considered among the best at their respective positions. Fitzgerald thrived, but Polamalu suffered numerous knee injuries, and the Steelers missed the playoffs.

Madden 2011: Drew Brees

The Saints entered the playoffs as one of the favorites to win it all, led by Brees and their high-powered offense. However, fate had a different plan. In a historic upset, the Saints were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Madden 2012: Peyton Hillis

A former fullback turned running back, Hillis experienced a breakout year for the Cleveland Browns in 2011. He rushed for 1,117 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, earning him the honor of being selected for the Madden cover. However, the following year he played in only 10 games, starting just 9, due to various ailments such as hamstring injuries, strep throat, and a sprained hip.

Madden 2013: Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson's 2012 season is often cited as evidence against the Madden curse. Despite the Detroit Lions finishing with a 4-12 record, Johnson had a remarkable year, breaking Jerry Rice's record for the most receiving yards in a season.

Madden 2014: Adrian Peterson

Peterson struggled with a foot injury and missed significant games.

Madden 2015: Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman, defying the trend of cursed cover athletes, had an exceptional performance during the 2014 season. He became the first Madden cover athlete to appear in the Super Bowl during the season he was featured on the cover.

Madden 2016: Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham had some off-the-field issues but finished the year with impressive numbers, accumulating 1,450 receiving yards and scoring 13 touchdowns, surpassing his previous year's statistics.

Madden 2017: Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski's season was plagued by injuries, ending in back surgery and a spot on the IR. However, despite his injury, the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl LI, making Gronkowski the first Madden cover athlete to win a Super Bowl during the season he appeared.

Madden 2018: Tom Brady

Tom Brady's year as the Madden cover athlete did not necessarily lead to a cursed season. He was recognized as the league MVP, becoming the first cover athlete to receive this honor, and led the New England Patriots to an appearance in Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Some proponents of the curse point to the Patriots' upset loss in the game, where Brady had a dropped pass and a forced fumble during a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. However, critics argue that Brady's performance during the Super Bowl was strong, and the team's defeat was primarily attributed to the defense's poor performance.

Madden 2019: Antonio Brown

From a statistical standpoint, the Madden curse did not seem to affect Antonio Brown. He had an impressive season, catching 104 passes for 1,297 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns. However, off the field, Brown's offseason was marked by controversy and peculiar incidents. He was involved in a tense argument with his quarterback, resulting in him sitting out the final game of the regular season and eventually parting ways with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His tenure with the Oakland Raiders got off to a tumultuous start, with a frostbite injury on his feet and a dispute over his preferred helmet.

Madden 2020: Patrick Mahomes

Despite suffering a kneecap injury in Week 7 that caused him to miss a couple of games, Patrick Mahomes is not generally considered to have been cursed. He led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV, their first championship in 50 years. This made him the first cover athlete to play in and win a Super Bowl while featured on the cover.

Madden 2021: Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson, following his MVP campaign in 2019, graced the cover of Madden 2021. Although his 2020 season did not reach the same statistical heights, Jackson performed well in the postseason, winning his first playoff game.

Madden 2022: Tom Brady & Patrick Mahomes

Madden 2022 featured two of the best players ever, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, likely in an attempt to break the curse. Remarkably, the curse was broken as Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory.

Madden 2023: John Madden

In honor of the passing of the legendary commentator and influential figure in football, John Madden himself was chosen as the cover athlete for Madden 2023. Recognizing his immense impact on the Madden franchise and the sport as a whole, this selection serves as a respectful tribute to a true icon. If the curse was still believed to exist, it has undoubtedly been put to rest with this selection.

Whether the curse was a genuine phenomenon or simply a series of coincidences, one thing is evident: it no longer seems to impact injuries or performance of the Madden cover athletes. Examining the past nine years, the curse has been largely debunked, with several cover athletes even going on to win Super Bowls and earn MVP honors.

In light of this, I confidently believe in Josh Allen to continue breaking the supposed curse and predict that he will secure the MVP title in the upcoming 2023-24 season. 🎶"LET’S GO BUFFALO" 🎶

Learn more from Pat Pickens’ NFL MVP odds and best bets.

Panthers’ Surprise Playoff Run Harkens Memories of ‘Year of the Rat’

The Stanley Cup Final will make its long-awaited return to South Florida on Thursday.

Game 3 between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights will be Florida’s first championship-round home game in 27 years. It also will fall on the anniversary of their first Cup Final game, Game 3 between Florida and the Colorado Avalanche, which was played June 8, 1996 at Miami Arena.

The Panthers have taken their fans for a wild and unpredictable ride to the Cup Final, just as they did in 1996. The run has brought back memories of Florida’s first championship-round appearance, a season known in the hockey world as the “Year of the Rat.”