After Madden Curse Struck Son Christian, Dad Ed McCaffrey Responds to 26-YO Video Game Memory

Have you ever heard or read about the Madden Curse in the NFL? It’s one of the most bizarre stories about the league. The Madden Curse started with the former Lions RB Barry Sanders and is said to have existed till today. Made by the folks at EA Orlando, Madden NFL had the entire NFL fan base crazy over it. EA Sports started a trend of featuring NFL players and coaches on its cover. But do you know the dark side of it? There is a myth that every player who has appeared on the Madden cover has witnessed an unsuccessful season the following year. And this year, it looks like the Madden Curse has caught up with 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey.

While the 49ers RB has been struggling with injuries this season, his dad, Ed, recently shared a years-old memory of Madden. In a joint post by Prime Video and EA Sports, fans were asked to share their first memory of playing Madden. The post also featured Ed McCaffrey. Reposting it to his story, the former NFL player wrote, ” Madden 99 wow @nflonprime @eamaddennfl.” Even though the 56-year-old Ed McCaffrey’s never been on the Madden cover, his son Christian made it this year.

EA Sports launched its 2025 cover featuring 49ers star Christian McCaffrey in August, just as the NFL season was about to kick off. McCaffrey suffered an injury during training camp that sidelined him for most of the season. When he finally returned in Week 10, he could only play four games. It looks like this has been the worst season of his eight-year career. It looks like the curse has fallen on the 49ers RB as he suffers a PCL sprain that will keep him out until the 2025 season. That’s pretty scary!

Earlier, when he was asked about it, the 28-year-old shrugged off the whole Madden curse thing, saying he doesn’t buy into it. But now, it might just be a coincidence that he’s having his worst season after landing on the Madden cover. Or is there something to this curse?

Michael Vick to Christian McCaffrey: Players affected by the Madden Curse

Believe it or not, there’s something weird about this curse. How does the same thing keep happening over and over? The Madden Curse has been a thing for years, with players on the cover often having tough seasons right after. People have been talking about it for decades. While some shrug it off, 49ers fans express their understandable frustration this year, and honestly, it’s hard to blame them. After what happened to Christian McCaffrey, it seems like some 49ers fans are starting to believe this curse might be real.

Some players, for instance, Michael Vick, Eddie George, and Marshall Faulk couldn’t dodge the curse. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tom Brady walked away untouched after gracing the cover. Even the Ravens‘ star QB Lamar Jackson appeared on the Madden cover and seemed to handle it just fine, avoiding any major setbacks or ‘curse-like’ events.

This curse has turned into a mystery, almost like a black hole. But hey, we even have a picture of a black hole now. And still nothing about this curse. Whatever it is, it sure would make for an intriguing plot for a feature film. Whether it’s real or just a wild coincidence, no one can say for sure. Here’s hoping 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey recovers soon and gets back on the field stronger than ever. And to any NFL players thinking about landing on that Madden cover, maybe give it a second thought, just in case?