It’s offseason time! And the gamers are getting anxious about the next cover of Madden 26. Rumors are flying that Eagles RB Saquon Barkley will be on the cover of the Madden 2025 edition. Although landing the cover of Madden NFL is a major milestone for any NFL superstar, especially a Super Bowl winner, some fans worry it could come at a cost.

The infamous “Madden Curse” has a long and storied history. It all began with running back Garrison Hearst, who graced the cover of Madden NFL 1999. After a stellar season, Hearst suffered a devastating ankle injury in the playoffs, sidelining him for two years. The injury was so severe that the league named him Comeback Player of the Year upon his return in 2001.

Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley has been facing a different kind of spotlight. Critics called out the star running back after he appeared with the 47th U.S. President, Donald Trump, just one day before his team’s scheduled visit. After disembarking from Marine One in New Jersey, Trump praised Barkley, calling him “a nice guy.” The two even played a round of golf together.

Barkley didn’t let the backlash shake him. He responded on X (formerly Twitter), addressing critics from across the political spectrum: “Maybe I just respect the office — not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago… and look forward to finishing my round with Trump!” Regardless of political views, his response showed poise and reminded fans that personal respect doesn’t always mean political endorsement.

By featuring on the cover of Madden 2025, the running back has reignited the fears of the curse. But many legends have defied the odds. Tom Brady featured on the cover of Madden 18 in 2017. But he avoided any injury and won 2 more Super Bowls in his career. Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes also featured on Madden 20 in 2019 and won his first Super Bowl in 2019 against the 49ers.

However, the Eagles will defend their Super Bowl LIX title this year. Their RB is taking a colossal risk by featuring on the Madden NFL 26. However, the fans are against this move. They don’t want the $38 billion giant EA Sports to do this.

Fans fear Saquon Barkley over Madden cover

The recent example of the Madden Curse came in 2024 when the 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey featured on the Madden 26 cover. In 2023, he had a career-high 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Even in the receiving game, he was dominant, with 67 receptions in 564 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. One fan reminded Saquon Barkley about him and tweeted, “Injury incoming. Look what happened to CMC.”

However, not all fans were excited. One user urged the sporting giant to pick someone else for the cover, writing, “No. Cancel it. Make it Odell or AB or something again.” The main concern? The infamous Madden Curse. Many fans fear it could derail the Eagles’ hopes of another Super Bowl run this year.

One person wrote, “They tryna put the Madden curse on the Eagles now 🤦🏽‍♂️.” Another added, “He will be hurt all season,” reacting to the rumor with dread. Eagles fans are understandably worried about how an injury could impact the team. In 2024, the star wide receiver topped 2,000 all-purpose yards, with 345 catches, 2,005 rushing yards, and 13 touchdowns.

Yet another fan echoed the curse concern more bluntly: “Good. That’ll mean his career is done soon.” So, will the rumor come true — or will the cover choice be reconsidered? Either way, things are heating up fast.