The classic Madden curse has been very popular among social media in the latest years. The Madden curse is a popular superstition that claims that the players who appear on the cover of the game suffer immediate misfortune, whether it’s injuries or declines in on-field performances.

But let’s see how the last 10 cover players performed the season they were given the opportunity to be the face of the NFL‘s most-bought videogame:

• 2026: Saquon Barkley – 1.140 rush yds/ 7 rush TDs/ 4.1 YPC – Wild Card Round exit
• 2025: Christian McCaffrey – 348 total yds/ 0 TDs/ 4 games played – Not in playoffs (6-11 Reg. Season)
• 2024: Josh Allen – 4.306 yds/ 29 TDs/ 18 INTs/ 5th MVP voting – Divisional Round exit
• 2023: John Madden homage, no players.
• 2022: Tom Brady (485 completions/ 5.316 yds/ 43 TDs/ 12 INTs/ 2nd MVP voting) and Patrick Mahomes (436 completions/ 4.839 yds/ 37 TDs/ 13 INTs) – Buccaneers: Divisional Round exit / Chiefs: AFC Game exit
• 2021: Lamar Jackson – 376 completions/ 2.757 yds/ 26 TDs/ 9 INTs/ 1.005 rush yds/ 7 rush TDs – Divisional Round exit
• 2020: Patrick Mahomes – 319 completions/ 4.031 yds/ 26 TDs/ 5 INTs – Super Bowl champion
• 2019: Antonio Brown – 104 rec/ 1.297 rec yds/ 15 TDs – Not in playoffs (9-6-1 Reg. Season)
• 2018: Tom Brady – 385 completions/ 4.577 yds/ 32 TDs/ 8 INTs/ MVP – Lost Super Bowl
• 2017: Rob Gronkowski – 25 rec/ 540 rec yds/ 3 TDs/ 8 games played – Super Bowl champion

How did Caleb Williams play in 2025 to get considered the Madden 27 cover?

Caleb Williams’ sophomore year was an upgrade on his rookie season. While still erratic, he was clutch and guided the Bears to their best season in quite some time. Also, his popularity has been big since his College Football days, and that will go a long way on getting to the Madden 27 cover.

Williams guided the Bears to an 11-6 record, completing 330 passes on just 58.1% accuracy for 3.942 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a league-leading six 4th-quarter comebacks. The Bears went all the way to the Divisional Round and lost by just three against the Rams.

Has there been any Bears player on a Madden cover before?

Caleb Williams would be the first-ever Chicago Bears player to be on a Madden cover, at least in the United States. Back for Madden NFL 09, the international cover outside of the US featured offensive lineman Roberto Garza, who was on the Bears at the time.

When Williams was selected first overall, expectations were sky-high. While he has lived up to the hype with jaw-dropping individual performances, the organization wants him to refine his execution to protect his longevity and maximize his efficiency.

Bears quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett recently advised Williams to master the “boring” plays. While Barrett is well aware of the young signal-caller’s elite off-script capability, he has urged him to consistently take the open check-downs and intermediate routes that opposing defenses yield, rather than forcing low-percentage hero ball.

“We can be efficient and take what the defense is giving,” Barrett said, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “You don’t necessarily have to put the cape on and make those crazy plays because you already were killing them in the first three quarters.”

Caleb Williams is primed to rewrite the Bears’ record books

Williams is already building his legacy Chicago. The next major milestone on his radar is achieving a 4,000-yard passing season—a benchmark no quarterback has ever reached in the long history of the Bears franchise.

He came tantalizingly close during his breakout 2025 campaign, throwing for a franchise-record 3,942 passing yards alongside 27 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. Following a promising playoff run that culminated in an NFC North championship, fans believe the sky is the limit for the young star. However, as Barrett noted, reaching that next tier of elite quarterback play requires mastering his rhythm and pacing within the pocket.

The future is incredibly bright for both the franchise and their franchise quarterback. The front office has aggressively surrounded him with premier offensive weapons, and under the guidance of head coach Ben Johnson, Williams has the perfect infrastructure to build a lasting dynasty for Chicago in the NFC North.

“It was good for me to be able to see, to be able to feel, to be able to go out there and win games,” Williams said at the start of voluntary workouts. “But that wasn’t my goal, that’s not my goal. That’s not where I want to be. I want to be the best. I want to win. I want to be, as we call it, a world champion, a Super Bowl champion. I want to be the best Bears quarterback, best quarterback.

“Yes, that was a good steppingstone for me, but that wasn’t the last stepping stone. Being able to grow off of last year and be able to progress in ways that I want to. That last year wasn’t really anything. It was a good year and we’ve got many more good years coming up.”

Caleb Williams’ standout 2025 season

Caleb Williams enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign in 2025, firmly establishing himself as the face of the Chicago Bears franchise. Starting every game for the second consecutive year, Williams set a new Bears single-season record with 3,942 passing yards and finished the year with an impressive 27-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

His poise under pressure was historically significant, as he led the team to seven late-game comebacks—an NFL record since 1970—including a spectacular overtime game-winner against the Packers. By leading Chicago to an 11–6 record and their first NFC North title since 2018, Williams proved he is one of the league’s elite young signal-callers.

Entering the history books of the Bears

Making his way into the history of this franchise will not be an easy task for Caleb Williams. Names such as Sid Luckman, who revolutionized the position in the 1940s, and Jay Cutler, the franchise leader in passing yards (23,443) and touchdowns (154), belong to a select group of idols.

Additionally, the name of Jim McMahon cannot be overlooked. Led by him, they managed to win Super Bowl XX after defeating the New England Patriots 46–10.

Ben Johnson aims to keep the Bears at the top

The arrival of Ben Johnson brought a major boost in quality to a team that had been struggling for some time in the NFC North. Now the message is crystal clear: maintain the standard of an elite team, something that Caleb Williams agrees with.

”My answer is, ‘Yes, sir. Let’s do it,'” Williams said of Johnson. ”He is going to push me. I am going to push myself and I’m going to push my teammates. And he’s going to push my teammates and things like that.

“We’re going to find ways to get better. We’re going to find ways to reach where we want to reach. That starts with the detail. That starts with the everyday. That starts with the week-to-week of finding ways to get better.””

Bears aim to improve on their last season

The Chicago Bears set the bar high last season and will look to win the division again. However, it won’t be easy, as they will face tough competition from the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings.

These are the opponents they will face, with the goal of achieving their main objective of returning to a Super Bowl:

The latest recognition came from his former team and head coach Ben Johnson, who spoke with reporters during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“We’ll miss a ton. The guy’s a phenomenal football coach,” Johnson said. “The coaching staff a year ago, and really similar to this year, included many coaches outside of my circle that I didn’t know very well, so he was really hired through reputation. We had a lot of productive conversations before he decided to come on board.”

The importance of Bieniemy and what he achieved

Bieniemy was a vital member of the Bears’ coaching staff last season as running backs coach, helping the team win the NFC North and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs, contributing his experience while working with young players and sharing development responsibilities with Caleb Williams in offensive execution.

“I was just blown away by the impact he had not only in that position room, D’Andre Swift had probably the best year of his career, and seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai had a hell of a year himself, not just that room but the entire offense. He brings a demanding presence. The standard is the standard with Eric Bieniemy, and those are big shoes to fill.”

Bieniemy spent nine years as an assistant coach and coordinator with Kansas City before pursuing other opportunities ahead of the 2023 season, which is an added benefit because he understands the team’s identity and is expected to contribute to another championship pursuit.

The move that could strengthen the Chiefs

Making coaching staff moves alone is not enough. While looking to strengthen the roster with another star following Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury, Andy Reid and the Chiefs could consider adding a veteran quarterback as depth during Mahomes’ recovery timeline, with Tua Tagovailoa emerging as a possible option.

According to Bill Barnwell, the Chiefs are viewed as a potential landing spot for Tua Tagovailoa if he becomes available: “Tagovailoa with an upper-middle-class QB contract was a problem. Tagovailoa at the veterans minimum, which is what a new team would likely pay him in 2026, could turn out to be a very useful contributor in the right scheme. It’s also incumbent on Tagovailoa to pick the right landing spot to rebuild his value in advance of potentially landing a starting job in a more advantageous situation in 2027. Could he be the quarterback for the Chiefs in September before Patrick Mahomes returns from his knee injury?”

The 2026 NFL season may still feel far away, but teams are already building stronger rosters for it. Naturally, one of the biggest names to monitor is Maxx Crosby, who has recently been linked to several teams — including a recent Super Bowl champion.

While the Raiders continue evaluating their options, Crosby has addressed the speculation himself. He has denied requesting a trade, yet some of his recent comments and actions have only fueled further rumors about his long-term commitment to Las Vegas.

Maxx Crosby praises NFL quarterback amid trade speculation

Although Crosby has publicly denied asking Tom Brady for a trade, his offseason activity has kept fans talking. Most recently, he praised the quarterback of a potential landing spot — something that rarely goes unnoticed when an active star is surrounded by trade buzz.

During an episode of his podcast, Crosby invited Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to discuss their respective situations. The Raiders pass rusher spoke highly of Williams, and his strong praise quickly sparked speculation that he could view Chicago as an attractive destination.

“Just to be open and honest, bro, like we talked about earlier, but respect at a different level, bro,” Crosby told Williams. “You’re one of those guys, for sure, and you’re just getting started. I don’t even know you understand yet how good you can be, and that’s the scariest part. You know what I mean? Just keep that mindset, keep doing what you’re doing. You know we’re locked in forever. So keep doing your thing, bro. You need me, hit me at any time. It goes vice versa.”

History could repeat itself

Nearly eight years ago, the Raiders had a dominant pass rusher in Khalil Mack. However, with the franchise struggling to contend, the front office decided to trade him to the Bears in exchange for two first-round picks.

Following Crosby’s comments about Williams, many fans now wonder whether history could repeat itself. Las Vegas once again has an elite edge rusher who could command significant trade value, while Chicago appears to be in a stronger competitive position today than it was when Mack arrived in 2018.

Repeating their achievements—and even improving—could depend on Ben Johnson having all his key players available. D’Andre Swift has emerged as one of the quarterback’s main weapons and recently made a strong revelation about his future in the Windy City.

“I have no idea, but hopefully I did enough for them to want me back because I know I don’t want to go anywhere else,” the RB told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I hope it plays itself out that way. I love the city, I love the coaching staff and the men that I work with. That’s out of my control, but if I had it my way, I’d be back. I don’t want to play nowhere else.“

Swift’s relationship with Ben Johnson

The arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach of the Chicago Bears significantly boosted a roster that had been in decline. One of the biggest beneficiaries was D’Andre Swift himself, who made it clear what Johnson represents for him at this stage of his career.

“First of all, Ben always believed in me as a player, so just him giving me opportunities was great,” Swift said. “The more opportunities I’m given, the more I can make stuff happen.”

Additionally, he stated that he will strive to give even more in the upcoming season: “I can do more. I wish I would’ve been able to contribute a little more in the passing game. We’ve got so many pass catchers on the field, so whenever it does come up, I try to make something happen with it, but I do know I could do more.”

Swift’s outstanding performance

In the 2025 NFL season, D’Andre Swift cemented his role as a cornerstone of the Chicago Bears’ offense, serving as a vital safety valve and primary weapon for Caleb Williams.

Swift’s explosive playmaking was on full display as he recorded 223 carries for a career-high 1,087 rushing yards, finding the end zone with 9 touchdowns. His efficiency was a key driver for the team’s success, maintaining an impressive 4.9 average yards per carry.

By consistently moving the chains and taking the pressure off his young quarterback, Swift proved to be one of Williams’ most reliable and productive targets in a resurgent year for Chicago.

The game’s outcome could have gone a different way, but safety Kamren Curl had other plans, picking off a pass from Williams intended for DJ Moore. When addressing the moment, the quarterback didn’t shy away from responsibility, and his frustration was evident in the postgame aftermath.

“I got to go back and watch it, haven’t seen it and don’t really know, but in the moment, I saw the front-side safety down, front-sided concept,” the QB said. “Ended up getting hemmed up a little bit and so moved on and had D.J. going over top over all of it. Just a miscommunication between him and I. Tried to flatten him off under the safety and he kept it vertical, from what I saw in the moment.”

While the loss is painful given the expectations that had been built, Caleb Williams took responsibility but also made it clear that the foundation has been laid to build something special in the Windy City.

“It’s tough. In these moments you feel that you let your team down,” he also added. “It’s a good lesson learned for us, first time being in this situation for me and for us as a team. I’m excited for what’s to come, but obviously going to go back and watch this and figure out how I can be better.”

A dramatic finish sealed the fate of the Bears

At a moment when the Bears had cut the deficit to just one point against the Rams, head coach Ben Johnson chose to kick the extra point to tie the game, rather than risk a two-point conversion that could have put Chicago ahead with only seconds remaining.

Once the loss was official, the question from the media was inevitable: why did Johnson choose to kick it. On that decision, the Bears’ head coach pointed to his past experiences as the basis for the call.

“Thought about it,” he said in his postgame press conference. “Probably what played a little bit of a factor was our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very clean. Our inside the five plan hadn’t worked out quite like we’d hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances there in overtime.”

Ben Johnson transformed the Bears and turned them into NFC North champions over the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings. Additionally, perhaps most importantly, he restored Williams’ confidence after a very tough rookie year.

Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford is a strong candidate to be the NFL MVP and is looking to win the second Super Bowl of his career. He leads an explosive offense with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

What happens if Bears lose today against Rams in NFL playoffs?

If the Bears lose to the Rams today, they will be officially eliminated. In this scenario, the Seattle Seahawks would host Los Angeles in the NFC Championship game. It would be the third matchup between these teams this season.

What happens if the Bears win today against the Rams?

If the Bears get a win over the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago will face the Seattle Seahawks on the road in the NFC Championship game. Matthew Stafford’s team would be eliminated, and there might be rumors about the quarterback’s future due to his age and looming retirement.

What happens if Bears and Rams tie today?

If the Bears and Rams are tied today, the game would go to overtime. Each team would have at least one possession, but the game would end if the defense scores on the first drive. If the Rams or Bears do not score on that hypothetical first possession, or if the game remains tied, the next score wins.

What happens if Rams lose today against Bears in NFL playoffs?

The Los Angeles Rams would be officially eliminated, leaving both conference games set. In the AFC, the New England Patriots would visit the Denver Broncos, and in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks would host the Bears.

The Bears won the NFC North with an 11-6 record and, despite two consecutive losses at the end of the schedule, were able to secure the No. 2 seed. Last week in the start of the playoffs, Williams led an epic comeback to eliminate the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.

Now, with freezing temperatures at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears will host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. The winner of that game will have to travel to Seattle to fight for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Is Rome Odunze playing today for Bears against Rams in Divisional Round of 2026 NFL playoffs?

Rome Odunze is expected to play today for the Bears against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the 2026 playoffs. The wide receiver has been dealing with a foot injury but should be ready to help Caleb Williams.

Rome Odunze’s status for Bears vs Rams in 2026 playoffs

Rome Odunze was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but on Friday he was listed as a full participant. Although his game status is questionable, all signs point to the wide receiver being good to go.

It has been an outstanding season for the Bears. Under the guidance of new head coach Ben Johnson, the team dominated the NFC North, but the playoffs are now presenting a much bigger challenge for Williams and company.

After their Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, the Bears lost two of Williams’ key teammates for the remainder of the season. Now, reports indicate that another crucial player may not be available for the Divisional Round matchup against the Rams.

Who could miss the game against the Rams for the Bears?

The Bears listed Rome Odunze as questionable for Sunday’s game on their Friday injury report. The wide receiver has been dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for the final month of the regular season.

Odunze returned for the Wild Card game against the Packers, but it appears the injury resurfaced afterward. He finished the game with two receptions on six targets for 44 yards.

While Williams has shown he can operate without Odunze, the presence of the former first-round pick clearly elevates the offense. It remains unclear whether Odunze will miss the game, but his appearance on the injury report suggests his workload could be limited.

Caleb Williams needs Odunze, but not everything is lost for the Bears

Against the Packers, Caleb Williams found a reliable partner in tight end Colston Loveland, who helped exploit Green Bay’s defense. Loveland caught eight passes for 137 yards, and although he didn’t score, his production was crucial in moving the chains and securing the win.

Williams will also continue to rely on DJ Moore, who remains the Bears’ top receiving option. Still, having Odunze available—even in a limited role—could prove vital against the Rams’ strong defensive unit.

The Bears have advanced to the Divisional Round, but they will do so without two crucial contributors. During the matchup against Green Bay, left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon, an injury that will keep him out for the rest of the playoffs.

The defense was also hit hard. After the game, it was revealed that linebacker T.J. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula, officially ending his participation in the 2026 NFL season.

Two major losses, but the Bears remain deep

Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed both injuries after the game. Edwards exited in the second quarter, while Trapilo went down with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

Despite losing two of their most important players, the Bears still pulled off an epic comeback, erasing an 18-point deficit to eliminate the Packers. The win highlighted the roster’s depth and the impact Johnson has made in his first season as head coach.

Trapilo became the starting left tackle in Week 11 after replacing Theo Benedet. Now, Benedet is expected to reclaim the role and hold it through the remainder of the 2026 playoffs. In Edwards’ absence, D’Marco Jackson stepped in as his replacement during Saturday’s game.

Rams or Eagles for the Divisional Round game

As the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the Bears now have only two possible opponents in the Divisional Round: the Los Angeles Rams or the Philadelphia Eagles will travel to Chicago.

The Bears still have a path to hosting the NFC Championship Game. If the Seattle Seahawks are eliminated in the Divisional Round and Chicago advances, the NFC North champions would become the top remaining seed and host the conference title game.