Josh Allen proves it once and for all: the ‘Madden Curse’ is REAL

The Buffalo Bills boast one of the NFL’s most formidable offenses, defenses, a dedicated fanbase, and a strong coaching staff. However, a fateful decision by their star quarterback to grace the cover of Madden NFL 24 may have marred their season. Despite being widely regarded as a top-three NFL QB, Josh Allen has committed the most turnovers (15) in the league, pointing to a clear culprit: the infamous ‘Madden Curse’.

Madden is the most popular video game franchise in American football, having been a cornerstone of the sport since its inception in 1988. With two decades of legendary Hall-of-Fame NFL coach John Madden gracing the cover of the game, followed by 23 NFL star players, a pattern began to emerge. These pros experienced disastrous seasons, and some even departed from the league entirely.

What initially appeared as mere coincidence spawned a legion of fans who wholeheartedly embraced this superstition. The fact that EA Sports publicly denied the existence of the curse speaks volumes about its widespread popularity.

Victims of the ‘Madden Curse’ Throughout the Years

The Madden curse made an explosive entrance with its first-ever player cover in 2000: Barry Sanders. The legendary Detroit Lions RB unexpectedly retired in 1999 and did not play a single game that season. This unfortunate trend continued with Eddie George (2001), Daunte Culpepper (2002), and Marshall Faulk (2003). The list goes on, with Michael Vick (2004) fracturing his fibula a week after the game’s release, later ending up in jail. Although there were exceptions, the overwhelming majority of players seemed to experience a dire fate after gracing the cover of the Madden franchise. It appears that Josh Allen (2024) may become the latest addition to this list…

All Cursed and Non-Cursed Players on the Cover of Madden NFL

• 2000: Detroit Lions RB Barry Sanders (cursed)
• 2001: Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George (cursed)
• 2002: Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper (cursed)
• 2003: Rams RB Marshall Faulk (cursed)
• … (and the list continues)