EA Sports is soon set to release Madden 26, the latest edition of its popular NFL video game franchise. As fans and gamers alike look forward to its release, one question will be on their collective minds.
Who will be the top-rated players in the game?
Madden only gives a handful of NFL players the top mark in its game every year. The franchise announced in advance of its release that Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley would be a part of the exclusive ’99 Club’ after logging the NFL’s ninth-ever 2,000-yard rushing season.
What exactly is Madden’s 99 Club? Here’s what to know about the honor and how many times the 99 rating has been doled out by the game’s developers and ratings adjusters.
What is the 99 Club in Madden?
The 99 Club is a nickname given to the NFL players who achieve the highest possible rating in EA Sports’ ‘Madden’ video game franchise. The honor is an exclusive one, as Madden developers chose only a handful of players to get the game’s top rating – which has been capped at 99 since the release of Madden 2002 – each year.
Since Madden 2002, no more than seven players have qualified for The 99 Club in a single season. There have been at least three players each year to earn an initial 99 rating in the game over that same period.
Madden 99 Club full list, history of 99 ratings
Madden has issued 129 total 99 overall ratings since the release of Madden 99. They are as follows:
Madden NFL 99
Larry Allen, G, Cowboys
Morten Andersen, K, Falcons
Tony Brackens, DE, Jaguars
Ben Coates, TE, Patriots
Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers
Randall McDaniel, G, Vikings
Ken Norton Jr., MLB, 49ers
Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
Willie Roaf, OT, Saints
Mark Schlereth, G, Broncos
Jason Sehorn, CB, Giants
Bruce Smith, DE, Bills
Neil Smith, DE, Broncos
Reggie White, DE, Packers
Madden 2000
Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers
Barry Sanders, RB, Lions
Matt Turk, P, Redskins
Madden NFL 2002
Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs
Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers
Madden NFL 2003
Larry Allen, G, Cowboys
Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams
Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers
Michael Strahan, DE, Giants
Madden NFL 2004
Derrick Brooks, OLB, Buccaneers
Brian Dawkins, FS, Eagles
Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts
Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers
Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
Madden NFL 2005
Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
Mike Vanderjagt, K, Colts
Madden NFL 06
David Akers, K, Eagles
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Randy Moss, WR, Raiders
Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
Madden NFL 07
Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
Walter Jones, OT, Seahawks
Shane Lechler, P, Raiders
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Lorenzo Neal, FB, Chargers
Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
Madden NFL 08
Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears
Madden NFL 09
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
Peyton Manning QB Colts
Randy Moss WR Patriots
Bob Sanders, SS, Colts
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
Madden NFL 10
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers
Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
Madden NFL 11
Jared Allen, DE, Vikings
Drew Brees, QB, Saints
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
Patrick Willis, MLB, 49ers
Madden NFL 12
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers
Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
Madden NFL 13
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
Madden NFL 25 (a.k.a. Madden NFL 14)
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
Madden NFL 15
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
Madden NFL 16
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
Madden NFL 17
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
Luke Kuechly, MLB, Panthers
Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
Madden NFL 18
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Aaron Donald, DE. Rams
Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
Madden NFL 19
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
Luke Kuechly, MLB, Panthers
Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Madden NFL 20
Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
Khalil Mack, OLB, Bears
Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seahawks
Madden NFL 21
Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers
Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
Madden NFL 22
Davante Adams, WR, Packers
Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams
Madden NFL 23
Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
Aaron Donald, DL, Rams
Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
Madden NFL 24
Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Zack Martin, G, Cowboys
Madden NFL 25
Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
Madden NFL 26
Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
Lane Johnson, OT, Eagles
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Josh Allen, QB, Bills
Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
Since 1999, only one game has had no players with a rating of 99 or better. That was in 2001, when no player exceeded a rating of 96.
Most 99 ratings in Madden history
Aaron Donald has the most 99 overall ratings in Madden history with seven. The eight-time All-Pro earned a 99 in every edition of the game from Madden 18 to Madden 24, which was the last one in which he appeared before his retirement.
A total of 29 players have had multiple 99 ratings since the 1999 edition of the game. Below is a full list of those players:
Aaron Donald: 7
Peyton Manning: 6
Ray Lewis: 5
Tom Brady: 4
Calvin Johnson: 4
Patrick Mahomes: 4
Jonathan Ogden: 4
J.J. Watt: 4
Champ Bailey: 3
Antonio Gates: 3
Travis Kelce: 3
Von Miller: 3
Ed Reed: 3
Darrelle Revis: 3
Davante Adams: 2
Larry Allen: 2
Dermontti Dawson: 2
Marshall Faulk: 2
Rob Gronkowski: 2
Luke Kuechly: 2
Christian McCaffrey: 2
Randy Moss: 2
Troy Polamalu: 2
Aaron Rodgers: 2
Warren Sapp: 2
Richard Sherman: 2
LaDanian Tomlinson: 2
Adam Vinatieri: 2
Trent Williams: 2
Has Madden ever issued a 100 rating?
Yes, it has. In both Madden 99 and Madden 2000, the top-rated players in the game had a rating of 100. A total of seven players earned the coveted eight 100s handed out during the game’s early years. They are as follows:
Madden NFL 99
Tony Boselli, OT, Jaguars
Mark Chmura, TE, Packers
Jerry Rice, WR, 49ers
Barry Sanders, RB, Lions
Deion Sanders, CB, Cowboys
Shannon Sharpe, TE, Broncos
Madden 2000
Mike Alstott, FB, Buccaneers
Deion Sanders, CB, Cowboys
Deion Sanders is the lone player to receive multiple 100 overall ratings.