What Happened to EVERY Madden Cover Athlete?

What Happened to EVERY Madden Cover Athlete?
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[@REVOwolf22]

The NFL should open up the license to everyone that way the competition forces good quality football video games from EA again.

[@KLR2007]

That's how it was before 2005, and that's how I want it after 2026.

[@TexasNationalist1836]

Bring capitalism back to football games

[@keithplantsseeds]

Can't...a contract is binding.

[@keithplantsseeds]

Nfl sold their souls to EA for profit. EA makes terrible simulation games...still profitable. You buy it every year KNOWING how terrible the AI will be lol

[@keithplantsseeds]

You can't just give away the rights to Americas sport after they constantly produce garbage. They have produced garbage an im all sure we can agree. They assume a few name changes will make me buy every year but truth is im turned off buying the same game with things taken away, adding nonsense, just fix the damn mechanics. I've seen mobile games with more flash per update.

[@pariahcovers7769]

Can we appreciate the fact that Barry Sanders got voted onto the cover about 20 years after he retired?

[@sshza2143]

😃🏈20🐐😁🍻🕺✌😃

[@christopherflowers2327]

He was the most explosive player ever. Tyreek Hill has similar talent, so I am excited to see how his career turns out. Barry has the greatest short career ever, retiring in his prime. I remember secretly being a Detroit Lions fan, as it was impossible to root against him. What a class act!

[@christopherflowers2327]

Love this comment! Nice work!

[@1025MG]

He was on the 2000 Madden cover

[@blacksuburban2410]

I live in New Jersey, I’m a Niners fan, and I was 17 years old when Barry retired… But i cried like a baby when the news dropped going into Camp that season.

[@bigreaper7587]

The Madden curse isn't real, it's the EA curse

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

You are wrong EA curse is not real!

[@NickJaime]

@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue it was real but it's been broken

[@eddy5750]

@@NickJaime by who?

[@jakeaguas]

@@eddy5750 this is a late comment but both Brady and Mahomes beat the curse

[@OkayNiceOne]

What? "Eddie George had three straight pro bowls." A few sentences later: "Earning his only pro bowl nod." Man, the writers are just great.

[@matthewgilmer3006]

Yeh haha I totally was like say what?

[@jamesmatthews5365]

Yea I thought that was wrong.

[@ChrisSmith-zv1qd]

Facts 😂 I'm like what

[@vids2002]

Just like at the ends saying G.O.A.T.s like MaHomes has earned that or some shit

[@antoncid5044]

They misspoke. He came off three straight pro bowls to earn his fourth Pro Bowl AND HIS ONLY first team All Pro nod.

[@AliAli-bc5ir]

We need NFL 2k back no other football game compares

[@ojparker3160]

I swear bro

[@DNAATWINS17]

NFL 2k would be tight to see again

[@jefft5824]

The gameplay was fun, the trophies you could get for accomplishments like returning a punt for a TD, playing celebrities and what not. Hell I busted out 2k5 and NFL street out the other day, shit still holds up

[@DNAATWINS17]

@@jefft5824 I liked how they had Chris Berman on that game with the ESPN Sports center. As a Niner fan I hated T.O. on the front cover of NFL 2K5 lol 😂 But on the real note they had awesome features on NFL 2k.

[@jefft5824]

@@DNAATWINS17 Dude those halftime highlights from CPU teams that he narrated? Shit was perfect

[@Deathstroke4200]

The Madden Franchise needs competition. That 2K game with TO on the cover in the Eagles uniform was awesome!

[@TheOneEV2]

2K5 is 🤌

[@yeomane]

Overrated. The AI was awful.

[@pastel_pink]

Nfl drop EA please

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

Stop the hastag!

[@Misterbeaets]

@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue #yourmom

[@Chiefsfan12]

They might this upcoming year

[@willbark8148]

​@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue eitheR you'rE An agent of electronic arts or you have no iDea how the internet works. 1.) EA has had an exclusive license contract with the NFL, NFLPA, and its' partners' for more than 10 years (a decade). 2. By the very nature of EA and NFL's contractual exclusivity, competitors were NOT allowed to distribute digital and/or physical IP material of any players, teams, or organizations bound to this contract. Exclsuive contracting (monopoly) creates unhealthy production practices; which in turn, will produce unfinished, incomplete, half done, cash grabbing trash for consecutively scheduled outputs (yearly releases)

[@Justin-hv7eu]

They won’t because you idiots keep buying the games every year!!!

[@duanebailey6253]

Seriously can run any madden Game from 04 to 08 on a phone and have a 10x better product.

[@darrylbrooks8714]

Literally the best Madden years

[@codsniper31]

Madden 2007 hit different

[@rustyt115]

Give the license to 2K, ANYONE other than EA.

[@devinhoyt8396]

What's the difference asking for a friend ✌

[@aparks6463]

@@devinhoyt8396 from what I hear 2ksports is way better gameplay and even graphics? I don't game but have never heard someone say they prefer EA over 2K

[@devinhoyt8396]

I played fallout as a kid so I know bad graphics when I see em lol madden does not have bad graphics by any means but folks will complain about anything nowadays I guess.

[@chrisgratton6436]

2k is just as bad man

[@user-sg2eq6qv1c]

@@chrisgratton6436 2k is 5 times better than Madden. 2k players on complain because they don’t add anything new but NBA 2k isn’t bad unlike Madden

[@Locksmith92]

The real curse is the monopoly they have on the game...Lol

[@dracojoule]

Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu will always be the best cover Too bad Madden hasn't been good in years. It would be nice if we could choose a year or era to start in so we could play with our favorite players from the past in a franchise, but sadly EA doesn't even care enough to make the CURRENT rostered game good

[@austinreed5805]

EA: Being an absolute tumor of a company since 1982.

[@collinghood6828]

Ehh, they started to become a tumor in 2010

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

@@collinghood6828 no it was 2k

[@justasimplemanworkinghiswa1569]

MaddEpic 2000s was peak EA. Then there was a sharp decline.

[@noahbonner5853]

Shaun Alexander may be the most underrated and forgotten about player in recent memory. He was a superstar!

[@wadeintonature2975]

When you are called the Ghost it is fitting.

[@brandonbrown2652]

7500 yards rushing and 87 td in 5 seasons is so damn fire 🔥

[@jayoakes7874]

NFL we 1000% do not want EA to hold their license any longer they are an embarrassment on the shield

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

I hate 2k!

[@justasimplemanworkinghiswa1569]

PZ20JacobRogue Ok troll.

[@FAMCHAMP]

There were actually 2 players to appear before Eddie George on the cover Garrison Hearst was on the PAL version (the European version) of Madden 99 and ended up gruesomely breaking his ankle and was out for 2 seasons and never fully recovered. Barry Sanders is on the 2000 cover in the background to John Madden and he abruptly retired 1 day before the 1999 training camp This makes him the first athlete to appear on the cover twice. Also wanted to note, I think you guys meant he made the First All-Pro selection 6 times because he has 10 total All-Pro selections together because he made the Probowl every year he played

[@kingjayded4752]

Give the license to 2K

[@devin7436]

Ideally, both should have the license. Then there would be actual competition between them, which would give them a reason to make the games better

[@duffman1876]

#NFLDropEA Madden 07 is my favorite right now,never knew he dominated like that😎🍻🍺

[@jdog34505]

That was first game I ever got for my 360 lol

[@tyreepowell8367]

@@jdog34505 Awesome

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

Stop the hastag!

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

@@tyreepowell8367 I said stop the hastag!

[@Nightwishmaster]

@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue What do you work for EA or something?

[@iancypes5911]

Loving how every comment is about how awful EA is and how awful new Madden games are. Also #NFLDropEA

[@NickJaime]

When ppl bring up the career length of running backs Shaun Alexander comes to mind. He is the perfect example of a replacement position, he was MVP level at the start but once he took those hits. As they say, they take their toll and the middle of his career shows it.

[@blackice3395]

If I'm a high school running back. I'll do want I got to do to get a scholarship. Once I get to college I'm changing positions. RB's don't last in the NFL

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

Seahawks never sniffed a Super Bowl again until Pete Carroll took over

[@derpmcgerp8062]

#NFLDROPEA Super happy more people in the comment section saying the same. ✊

[@pz20jacobcouttsrogue]

Stop the hastag!

[@derpmcgerp8062]

@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue never!

[@lmao3911]

@@pz20jacobcouttsrogue why

[@joeym5243]

As a chiefs fan, I think Derick Henry should have been on this year's cover after 2K (who should make new NFL games) rushing yards

[@ConnorSimonis]

And he’s number 22.. IT WAS PERFECT!!

[@cooperwolfe5478]

Yeah I agree. It’s weird because I didn’t mind them putting Tom Brady on the cover again but I don’t think they should’ve put both him and Mahomes on the cover.

[@christopherflowers2327]

Excellent video bro! I have been playing Madden non-stop since it came out in 1991 (for the 1992 NFL season) on the Sega Genesis. That console was fun to play!

[@thegamingboy100yt3]

nfl throwback is without a doubt the best nfl channel

[@soandsomarkovitz7660]

By far the best

[@BAL9292]

Thanks for this!

[@thepatsnumber1fan]

They forgot AP on madden 25 next gen covers

[@swegmaster2591]

um does adrian peterson know that he just got hoed by nfl throwback,He was on the m25 xbox one cover yet unmentioned

[@underclas]

It's so fucking sad to think I just bought an Xbox Series and have been wanting a brand new game to play and to be honest I was going to get the new Madden. I was excited to buy a new Madden first time since 09 even if it was just a franchise update, but after seeing the price and seeing the videos for it I have held back. it's so disappointing that I would even be happy with just a $60 franchise update but I can't even get that.

[@fixxxer3456]

Culpepper had a cannon man. Too bad the Vikings never built a good team around him, plus the injuries

[@Jman417]

True

[@robkenji4371]

Ian Eagle makes even 0-15 teams sound exciting.

[@dre8485]

That Sherman interception on my Texans broke my spirit we had a chance.

[@dionshare7103]

They did the right thing this year by putting Coach Madden on the cover of the game that bears his name. RIP John Madden. Maybe this should be the final year it's made.

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

They'll never stop because money, but they could honor him by making a game that's actually good like they used to.

[@thenumberquelve158]

Figures, even the most OP'd character in Madden history, Michael Vick, wasn't immune to the Madden Curse. Also I find it odd that Peyton Manning was never on the cover, despite EA always singling him out as the one computer QB who can audible the crap out of you.

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

I thought that was so cool. He was the only com in the game that made multiple pre-snap adjustments just like he did irl. Also wondered how Randy Moss never got a cover. One of the greatest if not the greatest of that era

[@br__uh]

Man I have all the games back to 05 and I have some others older ones on ps2 but it’s just sad that for the past 2 years I don’t even want to buy madden and give ea the $60 they don’t deserve. We waiting for nfl2k even if it’s arcade

[@nick56677]

Madden 06-10 was peak Madden. The controls were simplistic yet, satisfying. Gameplay was fluid as well.

[@vegjeezy17]

Ea is such an armpit of a company

[@justasimplemanworkinghiswa1569]

More like a thighpit.

[@chadbroski1677]

Its hard to believe Aaron Rodgers hasn’t had a madden cover

[@user-td4fe5ng6u]

He was offered to be on the Madden 22 cover but refused to, I WONDER WHY.

[@user-td4fe5ng6u]

@zen view I don't know if ur joking, or ur being serious.

[@a_turn_of_events8390]

madden 08 was the last good in-depth madden there was, you could do everything, see everything and be anything. had all the hall of famers and create a team options. Absolutely everything madden fans wanted from a football game that game had. obviously aged graphically and there were some little things needed ironing out but man they really gutted the game. took out everything each year to make a skeleton of what it was with better graphics. they were only getting rich off the old format of making a good game, they wanted to get FILTHY RICH and added the micro transactions from fifa.

[@SpookyTheScary]

1:33 love the enthusiasm

[@rememberyourfuture]

I miss using Vick in Madden.❤️

[@jonjonbailey4314]

RG3 too

[@Friednirnroot]

The very first athlete on madden was 1998 49ers running back Hearst he was on the cover with John Madden

[@jonjonbailey4314]

Oh yeah

[@iminthemomentru3003]

@16:05 🙄 BRADY has more Super Bowl rings than any individual or entire franchise (all 32)🐐 He's played in 10 Superbowls...plus Giselle 🦵

[@jessebaldovino491]

I have actually met Sean Alexander irl. Super chill guy

[@spittingfire420]

That #8 reminds of #7 🏈

[@srchamb05]

The fact that the “Madden Curse” wasn’t mentioned AT ALL during this video is mind boggling lol

[@AvengeVenom5videos]

The fact that Peyton Manning was never on the cover of one is absolutely ridiculous

[@Taz7000]

or ladanian tomlinson

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Manning was was the face of Xbox's in house game NFL Fever for a couple of years. Once that happened, he wasn't getting on Madden.

[@Lindblum_Castle]

Yea he probably should have been the cover of 08 instead of Vince Young

[@jamfd3s788]

Aaron rodgers too

[@stanparker9556]

@@jamfd3s788 Rodgers was on 1

[@tyreepowell8367]

I Like Your Video NFL Throwback!

[@RP-mc5bt]

EA Sports: We Hate The Game

[@yebobbummann1622]

#NFLDROPEA

[@c.unknxwn_]

If Troy Polomalu was on the cover, Sean Taylor would’ve most definitely been on a cover and a hall of gamer if he played longer💯

[@40buster32]

Sean Taylor a real one

[@FnRenner]

I'm just here to hear them put into words what happened to Hillis lol should be awesome

[@PotentialUnleashed.25]

So Brees was the first to break the “madden curse”

[@OfficialBugBoi]

Madden 04 and 08 are goated.

[@RushFanatic87]

Alternate title: The Madden Curse: A Brief History

[@KentuckyTech]

7:23 homie went French for a minute

[@Shaggy9763]

It says Eddie George was coming out if his 3rd consecutive Pro Bowl season and then said in 2000 when he got his only Pro Bowl nod?

[@andrewgrant8895]

Ooooohhhh!!!!he broke his ankles 😂😂

[@Seahawks]

Skip right to 10:28.... you can thank us for it later.

[@scottydude456]

🐐

[@YankeesFan-yq1fc]

Rams are better than you Seahawks

[@johnnappa]

Wait at the beginning it says Eddie George was coming off his third straight pro bowl season then it says his 4th season earned him his only pro bowl nod...?

[@justinhenry7847]

It was his only all pro season, nice work nfl throwback lmao

[@ackyducc5040]

Madden would be fun again if they just brought back THE GOD DAMN TEAM CREATOR I loved trying to recreate my local universities team, or just making a whole new league of teams

[@robertsfootballleague7623]

Yes. That would help our league out a whole lot.

[@jay-r-raider3119]

Man I will never see good qbs anymore then the late 90s- early 2000s🥺

[@rupturegg8564]

Biased

[@cjcur7119]

I used to hate playing against Falcons in 04 😂😂😅

[@kylefunke9132]

No love for Adrian Peterson? He got a cover too, you know?

[@jakrispy3005]

@CHICKEN NUGGET facts

[@jakrispy3005]

@CHICKEN NUGGET I think we know why they didn’t mention him

[@jimmyjoesausage]

Every single one got hurt lol

[@slanderman3296]

Cold pecker,is what my dad called culpepper. He was born and raised in Wisconsin, so naturally bad blood there haha

[@slanderman3296]

He also onetime in the woods says "OUCHHH!!! THERE'S A PRICKER IN MY PECKER" HAHAHHA got stung by those stickers

[@ia5662]

Madden 04 - never got better than that

[@Jared_Merks]

Thank you for proving the madden curse is real (unless you’re Tom)

[@duanebailey6253]

He lost the sb what you mean.

[@Jared_Merks]

@@duanebailey6253 you’re absolutely correct, everyone who graces the madden cover gets boned one way or another lol

[@bradenhouser4805]

@@Jared_Merks not just a sb it was to a back up

[@TristanLockamy]

Derrick Henry was mad disrespected in this Madden. First of all he should have been the cover athlete. Second, he’s not even the top rated running back according to Madden. The 2000 yard king deserves higher than a 96

[@theblazikenbro]

Sorry to break it to u but cmc>

[@gr0undbr3ak]

@@theblazikenbro lol no

[@theblazikenbro]

@@gr0undbr3ak whys henry better

[@gr0undbr3ak]

@@theblazikenbro Henry is a better runner through and through, and is still a beast in the screen game. McCaffrey is a hybrid back who's very solid at a lot of things, he's fuckin GOOD but Henry is a better Running back.

[@theblazikenbro]

@@gr0undbr3ak i agree derrick henry is a better pure runner, BUT he isnt a good receiving back at all and cmc is still a great runner and one of the best in the passing game. Iirc disregarding seasons with injuries cmc has always had more yards than henry the same season. Couple this with henry having more help (qb, ol, coaching) it seems like all henry has in his favor is pure running ability which is a fraction of a runningbacks job

[@samtheman5555]

I hope I can sound as excited as the Faulk announcer one day

[@edwardcisabella]

Great work on the chapter timestamps...

[@alexreese1679]

Brady broke the curse

[@chrisc9769]

See the thing with the curse is it affects the YEAR that they are on the cover. Not the full Career. Its the same in EAs MLB games, and it's NHL ones too.

[@zacksampson6189]

Madden 25 also had an Adrian Peterson cover. I still have it lol. They mustve forgot this

[@Cjbmxes33]

I still miss gameday 96-98

[@user-py6sy4zm1v]

O4 was my jam

[@ia5662]

Best version ever!

[@jalenad11]

Bring back NFL GameDay. GameDay 98 is my all time favorite. Falcons Scissor screen from Chris Chandler to Jamal Anderson was 100%.

[@MrTimLee84]

That was a great game

[@montrailblack8062]

2005 when we got that hitstick

[@Highlander055]

God as a Browns fan the peyton hillis always cracks me up

[@burgermane1364]

We need other companies to make football games again

[@Tommy_Callahan]

Madden peaked in 2005, it's been nothing but downhill since then.

[@unknownd5679]

It actually peaked in 08 that's the BEST Madden ever dude. I guarantee everyone will say that 🤷

[@duanebailey6253]

Its much better than anything the last few years. I don't understand how you can make a game worse year after year.

[@Tommy_Callahan]

@@unknownd5679 That's fine, that's your opinion. To me, they changed the physics drastically in 06 for the worse. It never really improved much after that.

[@kylebaker4647]

@@unknownd5679 09

[@unknownd5679]

@@kylebaker4647 hell nah 08 on ps2 is glorious it scored a damn 10/10 in PlayStation monthly magazine that year lol 😂

[@GonzoShitcock]

I thought for sure that Steve McNair was on one of the covers...Thank God I was wrong...

[@AaRoninetyone]

Faulk looks like he’s ice skating when he runs

[@pauldezmond3388]

Earning his only pro-bowl nod Eddie George?!?! Aah no he made 4 or 5, he only was all-pro once

[@YakeTalkSports]

Eddie George is a 4 time pro bowler. I think you meant his only AP nod.

[@ViniZiello]

Now i see why they were calling it the curse of the madden cover on ESPN Brasil. I see.

[@solo-ls4dh]

“Future teammate” ha

[@revenant9277]

Shaun Alexander was unstoppable in his prime

[@nightwi5h959]

"Get Madden, Get Injured"

[@Ramadore999]

Madden 25 also had Adrian Peterson for the next generation console covers

[@McElvisss]

What I’m getting from this is you get on the cover and you’re cursed with an injury next season.

[@kalzyoung]

Those wr gloves are legal stickum! If you ever touch the palm side of those you’ll wonder how does anyone drop a ball!

[@jebowar6679]

1:34 and here i was thinking joe buck was boring

[@madwrestler1455]

I still have Madden on my Nintendo 64. The cover athlete is John Madden

[@masonmcconnell9375]

NFL please drop EA

[@andrewwatson4613]

Hillis didn’t have to do my Carolina panthers and my boy Godfrey like that trucking him like that and running for 3 scores In one half that game

[@campkemp9466]

I remember voting for peyton hillis just because I felt bad for the brown's never getting any love and seeing that as the teams first victory in a long time!!! Its a shame that dude ended up being trash

[@OctoberRust02]

A lot of people in the comments: Madden Bad. 2K Good. Me: Man those old Madden and NFL Gameday soundtracks were total fire.

[@austi16]

God megatron was a fucking beast

[@yarthwall4581]

NFL drop EA join 2K

[@horrordude83]

Tom Brady took there souls. That's why he's on multiple covers... Lmao😂

[@danieltillett6564]

Him and mahomes only players to make it on more than one.

[@jonathanrequena4361]

It’s that curse man