Is This Eagles Running Back Going to Have to Deal with the Madden Curse?
Saquon Barkley just had a huge year with the Philadelphia Eagles. He went to the Super Bowl with a winning team and broke several records in a matter of one season. Due to how fantastic his 2024 season had been, Barkley has recently found himself on the cover of Madden 26, a prestigious honor around the NFL that, for years, many great players have found themselves on. However, there is a reported jinx that comes with it, and it may happen to come for Barkley this coming season.
Last season, Barkley joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He started in 16 regular-season games, had 345 rush attempts, and had a total of 2,005 rushing yards, surpassing former Eagle LeSean McCoy, who had previously held the record. Barkley had also scored 15 touchdowns in total, 13 of which were rushing touchdowns and two of which were receiving touchdowns. He continued his impressive play in the postseason. He ran for 499 yards and scored a total of five touchdowns. He set a new NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season with 2,504 in total, combining both his regular and postseason numbers. Barkley was also named the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. It was a breakout year in all aspects for him, and to top it off, he got to be on the Madden cover, however, there is a chance that all good things must come to an end.
This is where things begin to get tricky for football players who receive this honor. In the past, players who had found themselves on the cover of the great Madden game often found themselves at a loss for the season after it happened. They either suffer from major injuries, ending their career, or they find a decline in their stats the following season. For example, Christian McCaffrey was on the cover of Madden 25 the year before, and this past year, he did not play a lot and suffered significant injuries. Barkley has stated that he doesn’t believe that it will happen to him. Several players in the past have also made comments like this.
Barkley himself also has a history with leg injuries, while he was still playing with the New York Giants. In 2020, he had a torn ACL that put him out for the season, and he also suffered an ankle injury, sidelining him for several weeks. These past injuries both affect how he might due this coming season, and it may not be pretty at all for him or anyone on the Philadelphia team. However, with how “superstitious” these double curses are, Barkley believes that nothing will stop him. It may happen to him, too, but stranger things have happened. He’s focused on confidence and this coming season, and how he can make it better than the last one. This Super Bowl MVP is determined to defy all expectations and show that he can have another big season.
