2000: Detroit running back Barry Sanders.
One of, if not the best Running Backs in the NFL in his time. Coming off of an amazing year with 1,780 total yards, at the age of 30 he retired unexpectedly from the NFL by sending a fax to the team.
2001: Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George.
Eddie's curse came in the post season, as the top seeded Titans were knocked out in round one of the playoffs due to a rare and game ending fumble for Eddie George.
2002: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
After bringing the Vikings, who were thought of as an elite team in that NFL, to a horrible 4-7 start, Culpepper hurt his knee and has season ending surgery.
2003: St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk.
After 5 straight 1000+ yards seasons, Faulk failed to hit the mark ever again after his appearance on the Madden cover. He also started the least amount of games of his career at that point in 10. He was never the same RB.
2004: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.
After an outstanding season of being a "joystick" like QB, Michael Vick broke his leg in preseason ONE DAY after the Madden game was released with his mug on the cover.
2005: Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
Ray Lewis had his first career season without an interception. He also broke his wrist causing him to miss time.
2006: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
McNabb missed 5 games due to a sports hernia. He also did not make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 5 seasons.
2007: Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.
Alexander missed six games after breaking his foot. He never was the same player since the previous year (before the Madden cover) when he was the NFL MVP.
2008: Tennessee Titans Quarterback Vince Young.
Even with a winning record, the team decided not to start Young and eventually cut him.
2009: Brett Favre "retired"
After the announcement of Brett Favre making the Madden cover, which was supposed to be the first retired player on the cover, he signed with the Jets. The team failed to make the playoffs and Favre dealt with several off the field issues.
2010: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu/ Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Polamalu missed the majority of the season due to knee injuries and the Steelers missed the playoffs after winning the Superbowl in the previous season.
2011: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees almost broke the curse by having a good year but the curse may have lingered in to the playoffs as the Saints were knocked out by the big underdog Seahawks after winning the Superbowl a year earlier.
This year the cover will feature Peyton Hillis. Good luck brother...
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