Lamar Jackson: Further Proof Of The Madden Curse

Video game covers usually don’t evoke fear out of sports fans. However, the Baltimore Ravens are sure to be worried as the mysterious “Madden curse” seems to have hit the team. Their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, appeared on the Madden 21 cover and now multiple key players are out with season-ending injuries.

A Crazy Superstition

Before 1999, the game’s namesake and former NFL coach, John Madden, graced the cover. But starting that year with running back, Garrison Hearst, a marquee player from the year before appeared on the case. It was a huge level of exposure at a time where video games were hitting their stride. And by 2000s, it solidified itself as one of the most recognizable game franchises in the world. And now, 30 years into its history Madden has become synonymous with sports video games in general.

But with that came one of the strangest phenomena in gaming, the Madden Curse. Hearst was the first to fall victim as the year after his cover in 2000, he suffered from a broken ankle in the post-season and would miss two seasons following. A series of unfortunate events for cover players would follow. Barry Sanders retired in 2000, Eddie George recording season high fumbles in ’01/’02, Mike Vick fracturing his fibula in ’04, the list goes on.

For the better part of 20 years, with certain exceptions like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, being on the cover of Madden has lead to misfortune and injury. And now it seems, the bad juju is extending to entire teams.

Lamar Jackson & By-Proxy Bad Luck

This season the Baltimore Ravens were looking to regain some of their past luster off the back of Lamar Jackson. But his Madden 21 cover appearance seems to have had a delayed affect on the squad. While Jackson himself seems to be ready to take on the season, the Ravens were suffering from numerous key injuries going into Week 1.

With the history of the Curse now circulating around the Ravens its hard not to feel like there’s some energy around the cover athlete. Either way, its sure to not settle a team who’s star appears on the cover. We can only hope that Jackson remains healthy and that the Ravens get back to full health soon.

Featured Image: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)