Historically, few people are more superstitious than athletes. From eating the same thing before every game to wearing the same old jersey under their pads during every game, athletes and fans are looking for any reason to explain the wins, the losses, the hot streaks and the losing streaks. This expands to the world of video games, let’s take a look at The Madden Curse.
The Madden Curse is the belief that bad things can happen to the player or team of the player featured on the cover of the All-Madden football game each year.
Madden NFL ’99
This is the first year that All-Madden Football carried a picture of a player on the cover, that player was Garrison Hearst. Hearst had a career year in 1999 and was one of the hottest names in the NFL at the time. After appearing on the cover, he led the 49ers in runs and to a first-round playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers. In his next playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons, Hearst would suffer a knee injury and would not play again until the 2001 season.
Madden NFL 2000
Barry Sanders appeared on the cover with John Madden for the 2000 edition of All-Madden Football. Sanders had a long and impressive career and was still putting up some of the best numbers in the league, as well as some of the most exciting plays. A week before he was to open training camp for the season, Barry Sanders retired leaving the Detroit Lions without an effective running game.
Crazy NFL 2001
During the 2001 season, following his appearance on the cover of Madden Football, Eddie George averaged a career-low 3 yards per carry and only rushed for just over 900 yards while battling a lingering thumb injury. foot.
Crazy NFL 2002
The previous year, Daunte Culpepper had thrown for more than 4,000 yards and completed 33 touchdown passes. After appearing on the cover of Madden NFL 2002, Culpepper threw just 13 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions before his season ended in week 11 due to injury.
Crazy NFL 2003
Running back Marshall Faulk appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 2003. Faulk had one of his best years in the league the previous season, but after appearing on the cover he missed five regular season games due to an ankle injury. He never rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season. The Rams went 7-9 on the year, a year after a 14-2 season that resulted in a Super Bowl appearance.
Crazy NFL 2004
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 2004. Five days after the cover was published, Michael Vick fractured his right fibula. He was only able to play in the final five regular season games that season.
Crazy NFL 2005
Madden NFL 2005 saw the first defensive player appear on the cover, Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. That season Lewis would have no interceptions after making six the previous season. He, too, would get injured during week 15 of that season and be forced to miss the final game of the year. The Ravens would also miss the playoffs that year after having won their division the previous season.
Crazy NFL 2006
Having led the Eagles to the Super Bowl only to lose to the Patriots, Donovan McNabb graced the cover of Madden NFL 2006 the next season. Although the Eagles as a team would return to the NFC championship game, McNabb would battle a sports hernia all season only to be cut from the game against the Dallas Cowboys and undergo season-ending surgery.
Madden NFL 2007
Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander graced the cover of Madden NFL 2007 the year after setting the record for most rushing touchdowns scored in a season. After missing only one game in his previous 64 starts, Alexander would miss six starts due to a broken foot. He would go on to miss rushing for 1,000 yards in the season for the first time since 2000.
Madden NFL 2008
During the season Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, on the cover of Madden NFL 2008, would throw for less than 2,500 yards with 17 interceptions. Young would get hurt and miss his first NFL game due to injury. Up to that point, Young had never missed a game due to injury during his NFL, college or high school seasons.
Superstitions have been around for a long time in sports, but the Madden Curse is a pretty good one, with a very long history.
No Comment