49ers' Christian McCaffrey: 'Lifelong Dream Come True' to Be on Madden NFL 25 Cover

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey checked something off his bucket list Tuesday.

EA Sports announced the three-time Pro Bowler will grace the cover of Madden NFL 25, which he called a "lifelong dream come true."

McCaffrey is the first running back on the cover since Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders shared the honor for Madden 14.

It's a well-earned achievement for the 28-year-old based on his production in 2023, which netted him Offensive Player of the Year. He finished as the league leader in rushing yards (1,459) and caught 67 passes for 564 yards. His 21 total touchdowns were also first in the NFL.

When injuries limited McCaffrey to 10 games between 2020 and 2021, some fans probably started to wonder whether he was ever going to be able to recapture his 2019 All-Pro form again. Joining a Kyle Shanahan-led offense was just what he needed to prove he remains a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands.

Niners followers probably have mixed feelings about the cover reveal, though.

The Madden curse isn't real, but that doesn't stop people from talking about it every year when EA announces a new cover star. Should anything go wrong for McCaffrey, we'll all know the reason why.