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.