When Christian McCaffrey was named the duvet athlete for the 2025 “Madden” online game earlier this week, San Francisco 49ers followers have been seemingly torn between emotions of elation and trepidation.
On one hand, McCaffrey was given the acknowledgement of being one of many prime stars within the NFL — one who’s face will likely be plastered everywhere in the cowl of arguably the most well-liked online game on the planet.
On the opposite, being the “Madden” cowl athlete has been a expensive endeavor for among the previous recipients due to what many have dubbed the “Madden curse” — one thing McCaffrey doesn’t look like a believer in.
“Once I received the decision, I wasn’t enthusiastic about any curse,” McCaffrey advised NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero. “I used to be simply excited. I feel that stuff is type of a delusion. No matter occurs, occurs. I am excited to be on the duvet.”
Within the early 2000s, the online game developed a popularity for being a little bit of a jinx for whichever participant graced its cowl. Some merely suffered down years, whereas most missed vital taking part in time resulting from harm.
Some examples of the “Madden curse” are beneath.
- Daunte Culpepper: He missed six video games resulting from harm, misplaced seven fumbles and threw 13 interceptions.
- Marshall Faulk: He began fewer than 13 video games for first time in his profession and missed the 1,000-yard dashing mark for the primary time in 5 years.
- Michael Vick: He suffered a damaged fibula and performed in simply 5 video games.
- Donovan McNabb: He missed seven video games resulting from harm and snapped a streak of 5 straight Professional Bowl seasons.
- Shaun Alexander: He missed six video games resulting from harm and snapped a streak of 5 straight 1,000-yard seasons. Alexander was out of the league two years later.
- Troy Polamalu: He missed 11 video games resulting from harm and snapped a streak of 5 straight Professional Bowl seasons.
- Peyton Hillis: He missed six video games resulting from harm and solely rushed for 587 yards and three touchdowns the yr after an 1,177-yard, 11-touchdown season. Hillis was out of the NFL three years later.
- Rob Gronkowski: He missed eight video games resulting from harm. His 25 receptions, 540 yards and three touchdowns have been all profession lows.
Whereas a 33% “curse charge” is a bit larger than most athletes, who’re notoriously superstitious, would really like, it’s actually not the type of loss of life blow many have made it out to be.
“I am not superstitious in any respect about it,” McCaffrey added. “I used to be so excited, man. This was such an honor. Once I first received the decision, I used to be in shock. It is simply one thing that I by no means thought would occur to me. I simply by no means thought somebody would name and inform me I am on the duvet of Madden.”
