Many people don’t believe in curses, but this one is hard to ignore! Christian McCaffrey became the latest victim of the dreaded Madden cover video game cursed athlete. McCaffrey started the season missing the first eight games with an Achilles tendinitis injury. CMC would return in Week 10 in hopes of giving the San Francisco 49ers a push into the playoffs. The All-Pro running back suffered a PCL injury during the blizzard in Buffalo. The star knew something was wrong when he immediately received the handoff and slid to the ground, giving himself up.
McCaffrey Is Another Madden Victim
CMC graced the cover of Madden 25 for all video game consoles after winning the 2023 NFC Offensive Player of the Year Award. McCaffrey was a touchdown machine in 2023, scoring 21 times on the ground and through the air. It was an obvious choice to put the 49ers running back as the cover athlete on the popular video game. CMC is now out for the remainder of the season, playing only 4 games in 2024. Here is a list of victims who have suffered some of the same fate CMC did:
1999 – Garrison Hearst – Broken Ankle in the playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons
2000- Barry Sanders – Retired from the NFL in the preseason in one of the strangest ways possible
2002 – Dante Culpepper – Season-ending knee injury
2003- Marshall Faulk – Ankle Injury
2004 – Michael Vick – Fractured fibula during preseason missing 11 games
2005 – Ray Lewis – Broken wrist
2006 – Donovan McNabb – Season-ending groin injury
2007 – Shaun Alexander – Broken foot
2009 – Brett Favre – Was traded to the Jets and we all know how that went
2011- Drew Brees – Losing to the 7-9 Marshawn Lynch-led Seahawks team in the playoffs
2012 – Peyton Hillis – Never to be heard from again
2017 – Rob Gronkowski – Only played in 8 games due to multiple injuries
2025 – Christian McCaffrey – PCL season-ending injury
How McCaffrey’s Injury Affects the 49ers
CMC is one of the most dangerous weapons when healthy and arguably is San Francisco’s best player. The 49ers are definitely having the Super Bowl hangover after last year’s loss to the Kansas City “Swifties,” I mean Chiefs. The Niners are sitting at the bottom of the much-improved NFC West, and their playoff hopes are dwindling. The loss of CMC has taken a toll on this team from the beginning of the season.
It may be too difficult for the team to rally to make the playoffs this season. With two division opponents and the league-best Detroit Lions left on their schedule, don’t expect the 49ers to make the playoffs this season in a very competitive NFC.
Final Thoughts
Christian McCaffrey is among the league’s best running backs, especially since joining San Francisco in 2022 via trade. He is one of the most athletic and exciting players to watch in the NFL. Hopefully, the veteran running back can fully heal up for the 2025 season. Most people don’t believe in curses but all you NFL players out there, you may want to avoid being the cover athlete for the popular video game if you are asked. The proof is in the pudding!
