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Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes share iconic 'Madden NFL 22' cover

Liz Roscher
Staff writer
·3 min read
6

For the first time in 12 years, two athletes are sharing the cover of EA's eternal NFL game, "Madden NFL 22." And who better to symbolize today's NFL than Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who were last seen together at Super Bowl LV.

The cover for "Madden NFL 22" dropped on Thursday, and it features Brady and Mahomes sitting side by side while giving their best "you can try but you can't beat me" looks.

It wasn't a total surprise, though. A teaser trailer released on Monday featured retired running back Peyton Hillis, who graced the cover of "Madden NFL 12," and two live goats.

It wasn't hard to put the pieces together from there.

“It’s a great experience being on the cover of Madden NFL 22 with Patrick. We both share a love for the game of football and to be a part of this iconic franchise is very special,” Brady said in a press release. “This year’s game really captures the energy and unpredictability that you see on the field every Sunday and we’re excited for fans to experience it for themselves.”

“I, like most players in the League, have been a big fan of Madden NFL for as long as I can remember, and to be on the cover - not only for a second time, but also with Tom Brady, an all-time great - is surreal,” Mahomes said. “This is only the second time two athletes have been on the cover together and we’re both eager for fans to dig into Dynamic Gameday which makes the game more immersive, authentic and keeps it fresh year-round.”

The last time two players shared a "Madden" cover was in 2010, when the cover featured Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polumalu.

What about the Madden Curse?

No "Madden" cover release is complete without discussion of the storied Madden Curse. NFL players who appear on the cover have a history of getting injured or starting to decline in the season immediately following the cover's release. The first decade of "Madden" cover stars like Garrison Hearst, Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick, Marshall Faulk and Donovan McNabb all experienced injuries or downturns after they graced the cover.

Putting both Brady and Mahomes on the cover seems like a gamble given the curse's history, but the ESPN Stats and Info Twitter account pointed out that the last decade of cover stars have mostly managed to avoid the storied Madden Curse.

Hopefully Bucs and Chiefs fans can breathe a little easier now.

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