Could the “Madden Curse” mean the downfall of the Chiefs in 2019?

Last week, it was announced that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was going to be on the cover of Madden 2020. And anyone who knows the history of being featured on that game can attest, that’s not necessarily a great thing.

So, is the “Madden Curse” still a thing?

First, we need to look into the history of the Madden video game franchise by EA Sports, with particular attention paid to when they started putting players on the cover.

Second, we are going to forecast what could happening to the Chiefs in 2019, specifically Mahomes coming off an MVP season where he became only the third quarterback in NFL history with 50 or more touchdowns in a single season.

As a lifelong gamer and a huge supporter of the Madden franchise (it has put quite a dent in my bank account over the years), I have mixed feeling about whether or not we should be worried about our favorite athletes being put on the cover anymore.

Let’s examine this to see if the myth still lives on.

Creating an Institution

The Madden video game debuted in 1990 on home consoles like the original Nintendo system and the Sega Genesis. John Madden Football, as it was called back, then was a revolutionary football game at the time.
Up to that point, gamers didn’t have much choice and very little quality in titles like 10-Yard Fight or Real Sports Football. Madden was different in the playcalling and the presentation. Gamers fell in love with the franchise and quickly made it one of the best-selling games on the market.

Cover is King

The origins of the curse go back to Madden 99 and running back Garrison Hearst. Shortly after starring on the cover, Hearst broke his ankle and was done for the season.

Not including Mahomes, 22 NFL players have graced the cover of Madden, with 16 of them having injury-shortened seasons or at production that didn’t match their potential or previous statistical output in the year that followed. Sometimes, like in the case of Hearst, players suffered devastating season-ending injuries just a few weeks after the game hits the shelves in August.

Breaking the Chains

Many people doubt the existence of the curse because of multiple players who had fantastic seasons the same year they were on the cover of Madden.

The best example of this has to be former Lions receiver Calvin Johnson when he was featured on the cover of Madden 13 in 2012. Not only did Johnson have a fantastic year, but he set the NFL record for catches (122) and receiving yards (1,964) in a single season.
Even last year, cover athlete Antonio Brown had a good season. The former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver posted 104 catches for 1,297 yards and a league-leading 15 receiving touchdowns. The curse may not have struck Brown on the field, but off the field? Well, let’s just say things fell apart and got real ugly in his relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the team.

Kansas City Problems

So Mahomes himself has no negative news swirling around him this offseason, but the Chiefs team certainly does because of star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Soon after Mahomes was revealed to be the Madden 2020 cover athlete, audio surfaced of Hill making some awful statements to his fiancée, Crystal Espinal. As a result, the Johnson County District Attorney has re-opened the child abuse case against Hill and the Chiefs promptly suspended the star receiver from participating in team activities.

The NFL is not expected to make a decision on discipline for Hill this week, but it seems like only a matter of time before that happens. If Hill is suspended or kicked off the team, it will be a serious blow for Kansas City. To lose an impact player like him on the offense will create a gaping void.

Yes, in the 2019 NFL Draft the Chiefs selected Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman (a speedy wideout) to be their Hill replacement. But there’s no guarantee thathe can produce at the same level as Hill did for the team.

Fan Response

I put the question out on Twitter on Wednesday because I wanted to hear from fellow gamers about whether or not the “Madden Curse” is still a thing. It hasn’t really struck a player in two seasons, and the last player “cursed” was New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski who appeared on the cover of Madden 19.

Here are some social networking responses:

Lets all gather in prayer and hope so

— Keith Mestas (@keith_mestas) May 1, 2019

Of course not. Megatron single-handedly disproved it when he almost broke the single season receiving record

— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) May 1, 2019

The Madden curse won't be why KC fails to win the division.
– Roster mismanagement.
– Talented 🏈 players who are a-hole humans acting like a-holes & getting kicked off team.
– Chargers are really, really good.

— Peter F. (@SanDiegoPete73) May 1, 2019

So what do you think? Hit us up on Twitter @1043TheFan to let us know if the Chiefs will fall victim to the Madden Curse in 2020.

Follow @CecilLammey