Reigning NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been confirmed as the next player to grace the cover of the Madden video game franchise.
This decision, while unsurprising, could seem bittersweet for Ravens fans as it is widely thought of as honor but also a curse to grace the cover of this game. After all, many of the former cover stars have suffered from a down season or even a devastating season-ending injury the year after being dubbed cover athletes.
Jackson led the Ravens to a dominant 14-2 regular-season record last season. The team was upset at home by the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.
Jackson also broke the single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback held by Michael Vick, who himself is a former cover player that suffered from the curse.
Jackson becomes the second Baltimore Raven to be featured on Madden’s cover, joining Ray Lewis.
The announcement came from Lamar Jackson himself.
We’ll have to wait and see if Jackson’s appearance on the cover defies the curse in a similar fashion as Patrick Mahomes just last season.