Caleb Williams' Madden 26 Cover Revives Review of 10 Past Stars' 'Curse'

1 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Jun 3

Caleb Williams' selection as the Madden 26 cover athlete has revived scrutiny of the long-running "Madden curse," with a review of the 10 prior player covers finding mixed evidence rather than a clear pattern.
10 seasons examined ranged from injury-hit downturns to elite follow-ups: Christian McCaffrey played just four games after Madden 25, while Patrick Mahomes won a Super Bowl after Madden 20 and Tom Brady threw 43 touchdowns after Madden 22.
Saquon Barkley's 2025 season offered the latest ambiguous case — more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns, but below his previous peak as Philadelphia exited in the wild-card round.
Recent history suggests the cover has not reliably predicted collapse, leaving Williams' 2026 season as the next test of whether the superstition still carries weight.

Sources

With a massive contract extension looming, can Caleb Williams beat the Madden curse when the stakes are highest?

Is the Madden curse just superstition, or does sports science explain why elite athletes often decline?

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