What is Madden 99 Club? History of NFL video game's top-rated players
One of the most anticipated elements of the annual "Madden" NFL video game release is the revelation of which players received the coveted 99 rating.
Madden only gives a handful of NFL players the top mark in its game every year. And in the upcoming edition of Madden NFL 27, six standouts have achieved perfection.
For a second consecutive season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett are members of the exclusive 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 choose 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.
Madden 99 Club full list, history of 99 ratingsMadden has issued135total 99 overall ratings since the release of Madden 99. They are:
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
- Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers
- Barry Sanders, RB, Lions
- Matt Turk, P, Redskins
- Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams
- Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs
- Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
- Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
- Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers
- Larry Allen, G, Cowboys
- Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams
- Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
- Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers
- Michael Strahan, DE, Giants
- Derrick Brooks, OLB, Buccaneers
- Brian Dawkins, FS, Eagles
- Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts
- Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
- Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers
- Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
- Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
- Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
- Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
- Mike Vanderjagt, K, Colts
- David Akers, K, Eagles
- Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
- Randy Moss, WR, Raiders
- Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens
- Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens
- Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
- 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
- Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
- Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
- Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
- LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
- Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears
- Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
- Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
- Peyton Manning QB Colts
- Randy Moss WR Patriots
- Bob Sanders, SS, Colts
- LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
- Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
- Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins
- Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
- Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers
- Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
- Jared Allen, DE, Vikings
- Drew Brees, QB, Saints
- Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
- Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
- Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
- Patrick Willis, MLB, 49ers
- Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
- Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
- Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers
- Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
- Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
- Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
- DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
- Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
- Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
- J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
- Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
- Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks
- J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
- J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
- Luke Kuechly, MLB, Panthers
- Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
- J.J. Watt, DE, Texans
- Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
- Aaron Donald, DE. Rams
- Von Miller, OLB, Broncos
- 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
- Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
- Khalil Mack, OLB, Bears
- Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seahawks
- Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
- Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers
- Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
- Davante Adams, WR, Packers
- Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
- Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
- Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams
- Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
- Aaron Donald, DL, Rams
- Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
- Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
- Aaron Donald, DE, Rams
- Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
- Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
- Zack Martin, G, Cowboys
- Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
- Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
- Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
- 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
- Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
- Josh Allen, QB, Bills
- Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
- Myles Garrett, DE, Rams
- Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals
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 historyAaron 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
- Ja'Marr Chase: 2
- Myles Garrett: 2
- Josh Allen: 2
- 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
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
- Mike Alstott, FB, Buccaneers
- Deion Sanders, CB, Cowboys
Deion Sanders is the lone player to receive multiple 100 overall ratings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Madden 99 Club? History of NFL video game's top-rated players