Should Caleb Williams, Bears’ very first Madden cover star, be worried about the ‘Madden curse’?

Another first! Caleb Williams is the cover athlete for EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27, the company announced Wednesday, June 3, 2026. It is a huge marketing stamp for the Chicago Bears quarterback. It also drags one loud superstition back into the timeline: the “Madden curse.”

EA Sports is rolling out two covers. The Standard Edition shows Williams in a jump pass with the Chicago skyline behind him. The Deluxe Edition leans into his “Iceman” celebration. Fans can expect a full game reveal Thursday, June 4, with the worldwide launch set for Aug. 13.

EA Sports put Caleb Williams on the cover and the ‘Madden curse’ talk started in seconds

EA Sports made Williams the first Bears player to appear on a Madden cover, per its announcement distributed by Business Wire. The company tied the selection to his 2025 season, including a walk-off, game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass in overtime against the Green Bay Packers and the “NFL Moment of the Year” label in its release.

Williams also leaned into what the moment means to him, and what he wants next.


“When I received the call from Madden, it was like my childhood dream was coming true. Being on the cover of Madden NFL 27 is a full circle moment,” Williams said. “I grew up playing Madden and imagining what it would be like to be part of the game. I know fans are going to love what’s new in this year’s game, and I’m looking forward to getting my rating up to a 99 by the end of the season.”

The numbers in EA’s release are the part Bears fans will cling to when the curse jokes get loud. EA says Williams threw for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, setting the franchise single-season passing yardage record. EA also lists his in-game rating at 90 overall entering 2026.

EA’s Evan Dexter framed Williams as a franchise-level choice in the announcement.

"Caleb Williams is what a true Face of the Franchise looks like; the culmination of many moments in the Chicago Bears' incredible history that has led them to their electric, generational quarterback," Dexter said. "Madden NFL 27 aims to put more of those critical moments and key management decisions, with meaningful consequences that echo across the NFL, in the hands of our players so that they can build a league that's truly their own. Just like Caleb, the future of football in Madden NFL 27 is thrilling and more dynamic than ever before. We can't wait for fans to see it on June 4."

The ‘Madden curse’ chatter is loud because recent cover history gives fans ammo

The “Madden curse” argument never dies because it has receipts, even if it is not science. The recent example everyone drags into the room is Christian McCaffrey. ESPN’s rundown says McCaffrey “struggled with injuries in 2024,” played in four games, and landed on injured reserve twice after his cover.

Saquon Barkley is the other name that keeps coming up. ESPN called his season “a step back from his previous campaign,” even though he still had over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns.


Josh Allen sits in the middle of the debate. ESPN framed his post-cover year as a “mixed bag,” with 44 total touchdowns but a career-high 18 interceptions.

In retrospection, Madden usually picks players coming off peak seasons. Regression is common in the NFL, even without superstition. Injuries are also part of the sport, and they hit stars because stars touch the ball more.

So should Williams be worried? The honest answer is that the “curse” is a storyline, not a proven cause. But it still changes how people watch him. If he throws a bad pick, the reaction will not just be “bad throw.” It will be “here we go.”