The Madden NFL video game franchise is one of the best selling games year after year. The game is named after Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden. Since its inception in 1989, the game has evolved and grown a loyal and dedicated fan base that wait outside stores to pick up their copy when the clock strikes midnight. John Madden himself graced the cover of the game until 1999, when players started appearing on the cover. However, once a player appears on the cover, they mysteriously fall victim to “The Madden Curse.” The player either gets injured, or has his production fall and is never the same player again. Don’t believe it? Well take a look at the cover athletes of previous years and see the evidence:
(Remember, the year listed on the game corresponds to the NFL season, so Madden ’03 corresponds to the 2002 NFL season and so on).
1999 – Garrison Hearst
Garrison Hearst was the first player to be on the Madden cover. Hearst enjoyed a career season in 1998, rushing for 1570 yards and 7 TDs as the Madden cover boy. However, in the very first play from scrimmage in the playoffs, Hearst destroyed his ankle. Really bad. So bad, that he was out of the NFL for 2 years. Although he did come back and continued to play in the NFL (he won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2001), he was never the same player he was in 1998. Who know what kind of career Hearst could have had if he didn’t appear on Madden?
2000 – Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders isn’t the cover boy exactly. He is seen in the background behind Madden himself. Nonetheless, he is on the cover. You might be asking yourself why is he on this list at all; Sanders is a legend. However, before the season, Sanders shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement from the NFL, a little over 1400 yards short of becoming the NFL’s all time leading rusher. Sanders was completely healthy and had just rushed for 2000 yards in 1997. While Sanders later admitted that the Lions culture of losing was the reason for his retirement, maybe he knew about the Madden Curse?
2000 – Dorsey Levens
So since Barry Sanders retired before the season, EA Sports had to replace him on the cover. Dorsey Levens was selected to be the cover boy, and he appeared only on the PAL editions of the game (Europe). Levens rushed for 1034 yards in the 1999 season. However, after 1999, he became a reserve player for the Green Bay Packers. He was released by them in 2001, and became a journeyman player. He never rushed for more than 420 yards after his Madden cover season, and retired from the NFL in 2006 after not playing in the NFL in 2005.
2001 – Eddie George
Before Eddie George appeared on the cover of Madden, his Tennessee Titans lost the Super Bowl by one yard. In his cover season, George rushed for career-high 1500 yards and 14 TDs. Unfortunately, in the Divisional Playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens that year, George bobbled a pass that was intercepted and returned for a TD by the Ravens. George’s rushing average never went over 3.4 ypc after that. George also had recurring injuries and never rushed for more than 1200 yards after his cover season. He retired in 2005.
2002 – Daunte Culpepper
The year before his cover season, he led the Vikings to the NFC Championship in his first year as a starter. Culpepper suffered a knee injury in late 2001, and missed the last five games of the season. The Vikings finished 5-11. After mediocre seasons in ’02 and ’03, Culpepper exploded for a magical 2004 season. However, he suffered more injuries and tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in 2005. He was also involved in the Minnesota boat sex scandal. Culpepper was also a part of the 2008 Detroit Lions team that went 0-16.
2003 – Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk was one of the most versatile players in NFL history. Not even he was immune to the curse. Prior to his Madden cover, he had a streak of 1000 yards rushing in 5 straight seasons and over 1300 yards in 4 straight. What happened after his cover? The streak ended (he rushed for 953 yards) and he never again reached the 1000 yard plateau. In fact, his rushing numbers decreased every year after his cover appearance. He underwent knee surgery in 2006 and retired from the NFL in 2007.
2004 – Michael Vick
Michael Vick really felt the curse’s wrath. In 2002, he led the Falcons to a victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs, ending their undefeated home playoff streak. In a preseason game in 2003, Vick broke his leg, The day after Madden came out. He missed the first 11 games of the season, and the Falcons missed the playoffs. He went on to have decent seasons after 2003, but served a 2 year prison sentence for dogfighting. His career has never been the same and is currently just a backup on the Philadelphia Eagles to Donovan McNabb (for now).
2005 – Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis was the first defensive player on the cover of Madden. Lewis enjoyed a career season in 2003. In 2004, his cover season, Lewis missed the final game of the season due to a wrist injury. That season was also the only season of his career where he did not get an interception. Baltimore failed to make the playoffs in 2004. The next season, Lewis tore his hamstring in the sixth game of the season and was out for the rest of the year. Lewis has put up consistent numbers however, and remains the main evidence against the curse.
2006 – Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb called out the Madden gods. He said he did not believe in the curse. He would be a believer soon enough. Prior to his cover, he led the Eagles to 5 straight playoff appearances, 4 straight NFC Championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance. In the very first game during the 2005 campaign, he suffered a sports hernia. He missed the last 7 games of the season after having surgery. After his appearance in the NFC Championship in 2008, the curse is not over. In the first game of the 2009 season, McNabb suffered a broken rib scrambling for a TD.
2007 – Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander, where are you? Prior to his cover, Alexander has 5 straight seasons of 1000+ yards rushing and 15+ TDs, 2 straight seasons of over 1600 yards rushing and broke the then-NFL record for most total TDs in a season with 28 and capped the season off with an MVP award and a Super Bowl appearance. In his cover season, Alexander broke his foot, missing 6 games of the season and snapping all of his streaks. In the 2007 season, Alexander fractured his wrist, and twisted his knee and ankle. His lead blocker, Mack Strong, was also forced to retire mid-season due to a herniated disk. Alexander was released by Seattle after the season and signed with Washington for 2008, but only had 11 carries in 4 games and was released. Alexander is currently looking for a job.
2008 – Vince Young
After winning Rookie of the Year honors and never in his life missing a game due to injury in his career, Young injured his quadriceps in the 5th game of the season and missed the following game. Although he injured his quads again in Week 17, he led the Titans to the playoffs. He ended the season with 9 TDs and 17 INTs. In the first game of the next season, Young injured his knee and has never started another game since (although he was healthy for over half the season). Coming into 2009, Young remains the back-up quarterback. Young also said he had contemplated retirement after his rookie season.
2009 – Brett Favre
After a NFC Championship appearance in 2007, Favre contemplated retiring (again). When he decided he wanted to come back, the Packers decided to move on and traded him to the New York Jets.(EA Sports offered alternate covers with Favre in a Jets jersey). Favre, looking strong and confident at the beginning of the season, fizzled out and the Jets failed to make the playoffs. Favre also revealed he had shoulder problems toward the end of the season. After being released by the Jets and contemplating retirement (again), Favre has signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2009 season.
2010 – Troy Polamalu & Larry Fitzgerald
The two cover athletes for Madden 2010. The curse has wasted no time in 2009, and has already struck Polamalu in the Pittsburgh Steelers first game of the season. He sprained his MCL attempting to block a field goal and is expected to be out 3-6 weeks. Larry Fitzegerald, watch out, the Madden Curse has its sights set on you now.
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I hope that nobody believes that this really is a curse and knows that it’s just a nickname for a coincidence. Let’s look at some other interesting facts.
In 2008: Ben Rothlesberger, who never appearned on Madden, was injured for a huge chunk of the season, and played during the Superbowl with some pretty serious injuries, in a situation worse than most of these Madden “curses”.
In 2004: Ray Lewis had over 150 tackles the year he failed to make an interception.
The Madden Curse can’t be blamed for Michael Vick’s stupidity. And Brett Farve was pretty old.
Now the curse of Myron Cope is very real. LenDale White wiped his feet on a terrible towel (Cope’s creation) after beating the Steelers 31-14 in a year where the Titans went 13-3, but that was the last game they have won since. Myron Cope passed away earlier that year and got revenge in his own special way. The Titans are 0-6 this year and have looked awful since losing to the Steelers this year.
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Robert Klimowicz Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 AM
In many instances, the year they appear on the cover, the athletes record their best statistical season, such as Eddie George in 2001. Oddly enough though, I believe the “curse” might be reversing. Brett Favre is currently 6-0 on the Vikings, Vince Young has a great shot at getting the starting job back in Tennessee after their dismal start, and Michael Vick is back in the NFL.
Very interesting that you point on the Myron Cope Curse. I always had a feeling that LenDale would pay for stomping on the Terrible Towel. However, it still can’t compare to the Curse of the Billy Goat in Chicago.
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The curse is out on Larry Fitzgerald too. Rumbling around the league says him and Warner are not seeing eye-to-eye. Maybe he wants out of Arizona along with Anquan? The curse may strike again!!!!
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Robert Klimowicz Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 1:14 AM
It might be time for the Cardinals to start Urban and Breaston after they trade Anquan and Fitz goes down!
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