San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey revealed as cover athlete for Madden NFL 25

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been revealed as this year’s cover star for EA Sports’ Madden NFL 25. McCaffrey is coming off of a 2023 season with 1,459 rushing yards (a career-high) and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, he hauled in 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

McCaffrey won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award for his performance and helping San Francisco advance to a Super Bowl appearance.

Christian McCaffrey is officially the cover athlete for Madden 25 👏 pic.twitter.com/4ED6Cbl4mn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 11, 2024

Last week, the 49ers rewarded McCaffrey for his standout play by extending his contract and re-setting the running back market with his new deal. He will now average $19 million per year. It’s an additional $8 million over what he was originally going to make in the first two years of his deal, plus an increase in guaranteed money, which is now up to $24 million. 

The Madden game franchise has serious competition this year with EA Sports releasing its first NCAA college football game in 11 years. The franchise that has been dormant for more than a decade is slated for release on July 19.

Last year, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen made the cover of Madden NFL 24. It was his first appearance on the cover of the fabled game franchise and, unlike some of his predecessors, the “Madden curse” didn’t seem to impact his performance. Though the Bills didn’t make it past the second round of the playoffs, Allen still had another 4,300+ yard season with 29 passing touchdowns while playing all 17 regular-season games. He did, however, throw a career-high 18 interceptions.

On the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast last year, Allen discussed his surprise at landing the cover.

“Yeah, it’s weird. As a kid, right, you play this game — it’s how I learned the game of football. All the rules … it’s just kinda full circle. I learned (the game) playing Madden and now I’m on the cover,” Allen said. “And some kid will eventually say, ‘I learned the game playing Madden, it was the cover of when Josh Allen was on the cover.’ Mine was 2003, Marshall Faulk. It’s surreal.”

More on Madden NFL Video Game Franchise

The game’s namesake, John Madden, earned the honor of gracing the cover of Madden NFL 23. It was a nod to his decades of contributing to the game of football. It also happened to be one of the most well-received covers in the history of the game, and an emotional tribute.

Prior, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady shared the cover of Madden NFL 22 following their battle in the Super Bowl earlier that year. Both athletes also starred on the cover by themselves in previous editions, but they joined forces for a memorable iteration that season.

Lamar Jackson took the NFL by storm when he became the Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback, and he was chosen to grace the cover of Madden NFL 21 afterward. Jackson remains one of the most fun players to use in the game, and it’s no surprise he was chosen for the cover of the game early on in his career.

Madden NFL Cover Stars dating back to 2000:

• Josh Allen, 2023
• John Madden, 2022
• Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, 2021
• Lamar Jackson, 2020
• Patrick Mahomes, 2019
• Antonio Brown, 2018
• Tom Brady, 2017
• Rob Gronkowski, 2016
• Odell Beckham Jr., 2015
• Richard Sherman, 2014
• Barry Sanders, 2013
• Calvin Johnson, 2012
• Peyton Hillis, 2011
• Drew Brees, 2010
• Troy Polamalu, Larry Fitzgerald, 2009
• Brett Favre, 2008
• Vince Young, 2007
• Shaun Alexander, 2006
• Donovan McNabb, 2005
• Ray Lewis, 2004
• Michael Vick, 2003
• Marshall Faulk, 2002
• Daunte Culpepper, 2001
• Eddie George, 2000