Christian McCaffrey's injury history makes perfect Madden Curse victim
By Brian Allen
When EA Sports announced San Francisco 49ers stud running back Christian McCaffrey received his well-earned cover nod, millions of fantasy football owners cried out in anguish. The superstitious believe a curse will befall whatever athlete is unfortunate enough to appear on the football sim's cover. San Diego Charger legend LaDainian Tomlinson was asked and opted not to appear on the cover of Madden 08. He said he didn't believe in curses, rather he didn't feel EA offered him enough money.
Tomlinson's stance was a surprisingly mature one. So many athletes dream of appearing on the cover they don't think about the demands on their already packed schedules. Could the true Madden curse simply be athletes spending more time on the red carpet and less in the training room after selection?
While his 2023-24 season was exactly what the 49ers were trading for, before that McCaffrey played in only 10 games in his final two years as a Carolina Panther. But a change of scenery in San Francisco appears to have been just what he needed.
McCaffrey won the Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2024, while also earning a nomination for MVP. He posted 1,459 rushing yards to lead the NFL and mustered 2.023 total scrimmage yards with 21 touchdowns. His numbers were video game-like, cementing his appearance on the Madden NFL 25 cover.
It's a perfect fit for a year in which Madden will introduce more special moves allowing ball carriers to make defenders look silly. Players who order one of Madden 25's more expensive editions will earn a Christian McCaffrey Ultimate Team item. In regular head-to-head mode, EA removes athletes who are injured. But that Ultimate Team card can keep running for as long as needed.
The superstar's explosive season reveals another possible cause for the "curse." McCaffrey carried the ball 339 times and scored more rushing touchdowns than several teams. The player who inevitably ends on the Madden cover is usually coming off a career year.
Combining McCaffrey's own injury history, his 2023 workload and adding a dash of superstition, it doesn't require any magic for him to get hurt. Frankly, it may require divine intervention for him not to.