Rumors are circulating that Buffalo Bills’ leading quarterback, Josh Allen, may be the star face for Madden NFL 24. If true, this would position him as the first player in the history of the team to feature on the cover.
In just five NFL seasons, Josh Allen has significantly contributed to the resurgence of the Buffalo Bills. He’s twice been a finalist for MVP and has proven himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
Now, new whispers suggest he could be adding another accolade to his growing list. Buffalo Fanatics claims that it’s “highly probable” that Allen will be the face of the much-anticipated Madden NFL 24 video game.
Should these rumors turn out to be accurate, Allen will be the inaugural Bills player to appear on the cover of this esteemed gaming franchise.
It’s worth noting that while he might be the first from his team, several quarterbacks have had this honor before. In the past six years, a quarterback has featured on the Madden cover four times, with both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes having had this honor twice, including jointly for Madden NFL 22.
In contrast, Madden NFL 23 took a different route, paying tribute to its namesake, the late John Madden, after his passing in December 2021, with him as the featured image.
It’s not all glory, though, as Allen would have to sidestep the notorious “Madden Curse” if he does get the cover spot. The curse is a theory suggesting that cover athletes often face challenging seasons following their appearance, often attributed to injuries or underperformance. However, the curse seems to have waned recently. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory in the same season as his Madden NFL 20 cover feature is a case in point.
Should the honor fall to Allen this year, he’ll be keen to emulate that success.
Expanding on this, being the cover athlete of Madden NFL is a highly coveted recognition among players, a validation of their skill and prominence in the sport. The cover athlete selection is seen as a prestigious accolade, symbolizing that the player is among the most influential in the league. Many athletes have been known to actively campaign for the opportunity, seeing it as an important milestone in their professional careers.
The cover image is not just a marketing tool for the game, but also a representation of the zeitgeist of the NFL at the time of release. Hence, the choice is closely watched by fans and players alike, making its reveal one of the most anticipated events in the gaming and football calendar each year. If Josh Allen indeed becomes this year’s cover athlete, it would mark a significant moment in his career, affirming his status as a football icon.
