Every NFL Player Hit By The Madden Curse (And The Few Who Broke It)

After Calvin Johnson Jr.'s record-shattering season in 2012, the Madden curse laid dormant for a few years, as Minnesota Vikings' running back Adrian Peterson, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. all had fine if underwhelming seasons for stars of their stature. Sadly, that would not be the case for "Madden NFL '17" cover athlete New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, whom the curse once again hit with full effect.

During his 2016 season, Gronkowski was beset with constant injuries. He pulled his hamstring before the season started which caused him to miss the first two games, and he was injured twice in November. First, a big hit from a defensive back resulted in a perforated lung for Gronkowski, and later he got a herniated disc during a game against the New York Jets. As a result of the herniated disc, Gronkowski had back surgery in December, which finished his season prematurely. He played in just eight games in 2016 and spent far more time on the injured list than on the field.

It was Gronkowski's only season between 2014 and 2017 where he was not a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro. Statistically, it was by far his worst season, and he had career lows in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. The Patriots would go on to win the Super Bowl that year, but the road was made much harder by Gronkowski's absence.

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