Every year since 1998, EA Sports has featured at least one NFL player on the front of its popular "Madden" video game. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes graces the cover of the 2020 version.
When Mahomes left Thursday's game against the Broncos with a reported dislocation of his right patella (kneecap), many people said it was the work of the infamous Madden Curse.
Patrick Mahomes left #KCvsDEN with what appears to be a lower leg injury.
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 18, 2019
The QB was able to walk into the locker room on his own.
Matt Moore is in the game for Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/n4kI2NksSY
So what, exactly, is the curse? Basically, it's the belief that the player featured on the game's cover will, at some point, encounter a serious injury.
To see a list of past NFL players who have fallen "victim" (and there are several) — click here.
MORE: How real is the Madden Curse?
Curse or not, the prospect of Mahomes becoming the latest "Madden" cover subject to miss time with an injury had people talking on Twitter.
Live Look at the Madden Curse standing outside of the Broncos stadium pic.twitter.com/EWlUZ17qUh
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 18, 2019
Madden 17: Gronk misses half the season, has to sit out Super Bowl
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) October 18, 2019
Madden 18: Tom Brady loses Super Bowl to backup QB
Madden 19: *gesticulates at everything about Antonio Brown*
Madden 20: Patrick Mahomes suffers knee injury
MADDEN CURSE REAL AS HELL
That #MaddenCurse taking out Mahomes ain’t cool man pic.twitter.com/WT9J49kEEn
— Rick Binns (@TheBinnzer) October 18, 2019
No one is above the Madden Curse. No one. #DENvsKC #TNF pic.twitter.com/V20J3vHmHP
— Luigi Curto (@LuigiCurto22) October 18, 2019
Players trying to avoid the Madden Curse pic.twitter.com/KdgGreJzIc
— SpongeBob Sports (@SpongeBobSports) October 18, 2019
Madden Curse always wins... prayers up to Pat Mahomes pic.twitter.com/hs8mueDIap
— Wheels (@_DrewWheeler) October 18, 2019