It’s that time of year when fans are hyped for the next NFL season, training camp, and, of course, the next edition of EA Sports’ Madden 27, set to release on August 13.
The cover athlete was announced as Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who recreates his jumping throw against the Green Bay Packers with the Chicago skyline behind him, paying homage to Michael Jordan’s iconic Jumpman pose.
Before Williams was announced as this year’s Madden cover athlete, NFL rookies around the league tried to predict who would get the honor. Most of the answers were not surprising, but one stood out to us in particular.
Reuben Bain Jr. accidentally volunteers Brian Burns for the Madden curse
Buccaneers rookie linebacker Reuben Bain Jr. said Myles Garrett should be the cover athlete, then changed his mind and accidentally handed Brian Burns the one honor Giants fans probably don’t want him receiving.
Bain told the NFL to put Brian Burns on the Madden cover since he had a good year:
Who will be the new @EAMaddenNFL cover athlete?
— NFL (@NFL) June 2, 2026
The rookies give their best guesses 👀 pic.twitter.com/RSATSBUhmO
He’s not wrong, as "Spider-Man" posted 67 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles while earning second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors last season. Now, he continues to take control of the Giants' defense with Dexter Lawrence having been traded to the Bengals.
You might be asking, how is Bain picking Burns as his choice for the Madden cover disrespectful?
Bain switched from the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who just set the single-season sack record with 23, to Burns because he didn’t want Garrett to have the Madden curse, a superstition suggesting that any player featured on the cover will suffer an injury or have a dramatic drop in performance the following season.
Bain clearly meant it as a compliment, but Giants fans probably had a laugh when they realized Burns only became the pick after Bain decided he didn’t want the Madden curse anywhere near Garrett.
I’m not sure Burns would be offended or take Bain’s comment personally, but Giants fans might have a different reaction. After the season No. 0 just had, volunteering him for the Madden curse probably isn’t going to go over well in New York. Especially considering the 28-year-old is viewed as a focal point of Big Blue’s defense.
Why’d you try to put that evil on our guy, Reuben?
At the end of the day, Giants fans probably want Burns as far away from the Madden cover as possible. After the season he just had, the last thing anyone in New York wants is for him to become the latest player associated with the curse.
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