What Is The ‘Madden Curse’ And How Is Saquon Barkley Related To It? Find Out

The Madden Curse is a popular belief among football fans. It suggests that NFL players who appear on the cover of the Madden video game often face bad luck afterward. This bad luck usually comes in the form of injuries or a drop in performance. Over the years, many star players have been linked to the curse.

Now, Saquon Barkley’s name is being added to the list. After an impressive season and a Super Bowl win, he has been chosen for the Madden NFL 26 cover. While it is a great honor, some fans worry if he will suffer the same fate as others who came before him.

Saquon Barkley’s Strong 2024 Season

Barkley had an amazing season in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He ran for 2,005 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. His great performance helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX.

One of his most talked-about moments was when he jumped over a defender by going backward, which was very rare and exciting to see. This play became popular and was chosen as the cover image for Madden NFL 26. Barkley’s skills also earned him a spot in the Madden 99 Club, which is given only to players who have the highest rating in the video game.

Also Read: Where Did Saquon Barkley Play College Football? All About The Philadelphia Eagles Star’s Career Before NFL

What Is The Madden Curse?

The Madden Curse is the belief that players who are on the cover of the Madden video game usually get injured or perform badly in the season that follows. This idea started when some fans noticed a pattern after Garrison Hearst got hurt in 1999. Since then, many famous players have faced problems after being on the cover. Some got injured while others had poor seasons compared to their usual standards.

Here’s a list of past players who had been affected by the same curse:

• In 2025, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers played only four games due to a right knee injury.
• In 2017, Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots missed the first four games of the next season and started only six games because of a herniated disk and other injuries.
• In 2012, Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns missed six games and never reached the same level again.
• In 2011, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints threw a career-high 22 interceptions and missed the playoffs.
• In 2010, Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers missed 11 games due to an MCL injury.
• In 2009, Brett Favre of the New York Jets led the league with 22 interceptions.
• In 2008, Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans threw only nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions before getting benched.
• In 2007, Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks rushed for only 896 yards after five seasons with over 1,000 yards.
• In 2006, Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles missed half the season due to injuries and later...