Curse or Not, Lamar Jackson Headed to Madden NFL 21 Cover

Coming off an MVP season in 2020, Lamar Jackson is headed onto the cover of Madden NFL 21.

Jackson, 23, was the 24th-rated quarterback in the last edition of the popular video game. But, after leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 14-2 record while running for 1,206 yards and throwing 36 touchdown passes, Jackson is headed to the game’s cover.

Jackson made the surprise announcement on Tuesday during a video conference call with Baltimore reporters.

Lamar says he'll be on the cover of Madden: pic.twitter.com/bPtzFBIlVI

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 21, 2020

“It’s always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, since I first started playing Madden,” Jackson said. “It’s dope. I have every Madden. To me, to be on the front of it, it’s a dream come true.”

Jackson also said he isn’t concerned about the Madden curse. “Patrick Mahomes is on the front and he won [Super Bowl] MVP,” he said. “I want that curse. I hope that’s a curse.”

.@Lj_era8’s a natural fit for the cover 🤣🔥@Primetime_jet will definitely be taking it to the 🏠 🎮pic.twitter.com/jvF2UZ86H8

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 21, 2020

Despite being in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson told reporters he is determined to return in 2020 as a better player than he was last year during his MVP season.

“Just like last year, I want to work on everything,” he said. “But the quarantine is slowing down everything right now. I can’t be with my guys, working on timing and routes.”

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Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”