Torrentgame – Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is making it clear: he doesn’t want to be the next cover athlete for the Madden NFL game, and it seems he’s aware of the infamous Madden Curse.
In a recent press conference, Chase was asked about the possibility of gracing the cover of next year’s edition of Madden NFL, a role that many players dream of. However, the star wide receiver quickly shut down the idea, saying, “No, I don’t want that [knocks on wood]. No.” His answer was both firm and humorous, showing that he’s fully aware of the superstition surrounding the Madden cover.
For those who might be unfamiliar, the Madden Curse is a well-known phenomenon where players featured on the cover of Madden NFL experience a significant decline in their performance, often due to injury. Chase didn’t dive deep into the curse when asked directly but kept it light with a simple “no comment.” Still, the Bengals’ star isn’t against the idea of being on the cover of a NFL Street game, a title that brings a more streetball vibe to the NFL scene, hinting that he might be more open to that type of gig.
Interestingly, Madden NFL cover athletes haven’t always been hit by the curse. Research from CBS Sports on players from the year 2000 to 2024 revealed that about 58% of players faced a “cursed” outcome, meaning injuries or a drop in performance. But there’s a positive shift—only 25% of cover athletes in the last decade experienced such setbacks, suggesting the curse might be losing its grip.
This comes in the wake of Madden NFL 25 cover star Christian McCaffrey’s injury earlier this season. The San Francisco 49ers running back was sidelined after just four games and is likely out for the remainder of the season. However, McCaffrey’s injury history—featuring multiple seasons with missed games—might be more of a personal issue than the curse itself.
Interestingly, Patrick Mahomes, who appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 20, somewhat broke the curse when he led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in 2020, proving that it’s not all doom and gloom for cover stars.
In addition to the ongoing Madden NFL discussions, fans can tune into Peacock for a special Madden NFL cast this weekend (December 21), ahead of the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.
