Saquon Barkley’s career has run the gamut. From forgotten seasons due to injury on a struggling franchise to becoming an abandoned running back to winning the Super Bowl, Barkley’s career has seen the lowest of lows.
However, it is in the middle of one of the biggest peaks for any running back since 2000. The latest accomplishment was Barkley gracing the cover of Madden NFL 26. Of course, that can be a double-edged sword. Barkley was asked whether he believed in the Madden Curse, hinting at whether he thought he had a battle against the mystical.
Madden Curse: Saquon Barkley Believes in a Bigger Force Controlling His Fate
Speaking in an interview on June 2 on “The Insiders,” the Philadelphia Eagles running back was asked point-blank about whether he believed in the Madden curse.
“Nah, I’m a believer in God,” Barkley said. “That’s my mindset to be completely honest. I’ve had injuries before. I tore my knee, I stepped on a foot, and rolled my ankle. Was out for four to six weeks, and there was no curse then, and that’s just how life works. [You’re] gonna have your ups and downs, but my mindset is coming in and [working], do what I need to do, and the rest is in God’s hands.”
Your 2025 @EAMaddenNFL cover athlete!@saquon joined The Insiders with @TomPelissero and @BaldyNFL to talk about how special it was to get that call, and how special his first season with the @Eagles turned out 🦅 pic.twitter.com/qj3I0lv41I
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 2, 2025
So, if things go poorly from here on out, Barkley believes only one force is to blame, and it isn’t a curse associated with EA’s NFL video game franchise.
Barkley Eyes Breaking Running Back Madden Curse Narrative Before It Begins
At this point, the Eagles running back is at the peak of what it means to be a football player. Winning the Super Bowl, appearing on the cover of Madden NFL 26, and getting a barrage of interviews leaves little room for improvement.
However, being the second running back in as many years on the video game’s cover sets a challenge for Barkley. Christian McCaffrey was graced with getting on the cover of Madden NFL 25, but followed up that accomplishment by having the worst season of his career.
Of course, injuries were to blame, but in four games of action in 2024, he failed to log a single touchdown after leading the league in rushing yards on the ground in 2023.
Barkley, like McCaffrey, has had his own injury troubles in the past, so superstitious fans have reason to be anxious about the age-28 Eagles running back.
Will Barkley break the budding Madden curse on running backs?
