EA Sports' Madden NFL video game has never featured a player from the Chicago Bears on its cover, but a recent leak suggests Caleb Williams could be the first. The leaked Madden NFL 27 cover features Williams, the Bears quarterback, striking his trademark 'Iceman' celebration pose.
Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 record and their first NFC North title since 2018, making him a logical choice for the next Madden cover athlete. However, the possibility of Williams appearing on the Madden cover has revived discussion around the long-standing 'Madden Curse.'
The Madden Curse refers to the phenomenon where cover athletes suffer injuries, setbacks, or disappointing seasons shortly after being featured on the game's cover. The track record for quarterbacks featured on the Madden NFL cover has done little to ease concerns about the so-called 'Madden Curse.'
According to Underdog Sports, the 12 quarterbacks who had appeared on the cover saw their passing production decline on average during their cover years. On average, compared to the year prior, their passing yards dropped by 10.9%, passing touchdowns fell by 25.3%, and interceptions increased by 45.5%.
Chicago Bears fans fear that Williams could become the latest player affected by the infamous 'Madden Curse' if the leaked cover proves to be genuine.
