Are Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson the top NFL QBs? A look at the new Madden 99 club

New York Times

28-07-2025

In what's become an annual conversation piece around this time of year, EA Sports released the latest class of the Madden 99 Club. The Madden 99 Club is a group of players who earn the exclusive '99' rating in the video game. Since 2002, 99 is the highest rating a player can achieve (there were a few 100s awarded by the game in its earlier days).
Here's the 99 Club Class of Madden NFL 26:
For five of the seven players, it's their first time receiving the honor. It's the second time for Garrett, who also received the top rating in Madden NFL 23, and the second time for Jefferson, who was part of the club in Madden NFL 24.
Introducing your official #Madden26 99 Club Class!
Sundays Start Early! 7 Days Early Access Begins 8/7*. 🔗: https://t.co/wxZXS8ajue | #Madden26Ratings pic.twitter.com/219voq3gW3
— Madden NFL 26 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 28, 2025
One distinction for this year's class is that there is no carryover from the previous year. For context, this is the first time since Madden NFL 2002 that there was not at least one member carried over from the last iteration of the game. Through the years, some dominant runs by individual players have helped keep that streak alive.
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No player in the league received a 99 rating in Madden NFL 2001. However, from Madden NFL 2002 through Madden NFL 06, Ray Lewis received a 99 rating for five consecutive years. From Madden NFL 06 through Madden NFL 11, Peyton Manning carried a 99 rating for six straight years, until he missed a full season due to injury. Darrelle Revis had three consecutive top-rated years from Madden NFL 11 through Madden NFL 13. Calvin Johnson carried the torch from Madden NFL 13 through Madden NFL 15. J.J. Watt went four straight years, from Madden NFL 14 through Madden NFL 17. Then came the longest stretch in the history of the game, when Aaron Donald received a 99 rating every year from Madden NFL 18 through Madden NFL 24 (Von Miller helped keep the streak alive of having at least one player carry over by appearing at the top in Madden NFL 17 and Madden NFL 18, before Donald took off).
Last year's class of the 99 Club featured Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 49ers tackle Trent Williams and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Hill dropping out is not a surprise. Although the receiver is supremely talented, he had a down year in 2024. After consecutive years of over 1,700 yards receiving, Hill had just 959 yards receiving in 17 games last season. His six touchdown receptions also were tied for the lowest in his career, which first occurred in his rookie season in 2016.
Despite playing in 16 games, Kelce had 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Both figures are the lowest of his career, not counting his rookie season in 2013, in which he only played one snap.
Injuries hurt the cases of both 49ers stars on last year's list. McCaffrey played just four games in 2024 while Williams played in 10.
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That leads us to Mahomes, who is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the NFL. Mahomes received a 99 rating in four of the last five Madden NFL games before this year, missing the cut only in Madden NFL 23, where he had a 95 rating. That ensuing season, Mahomes threw for a career-high 5,250 yards, 41 touchdowns, claimed league MVP honors and led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory over the Eagles.
Now, coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Mahomes drops from the top rating while two quarterbacks, Allen and Jackson, get their first-ever 99 rating. In last year's NFL Top 100 list, which the players vote on, Jackson was the top-ranked quarterback at No. 2 overall, while Mahomes came just behind at No. 4 overall. In 2020, Jackson was the top overall player on the NFL's Top 100 list, while Mahomes was No. 4. Mahomes has been the top player on the list twice, in 2021 and 2023.
So, this isn't foreign territory for Mahomes, especially as it relates to coming behind Jackson in a league-wide ranking. Jackson and Allen being the highest-rated quarterbacks in the game this year is well-deserved and shouldn't come as a surprise after the two had a tight race for league MVP honors last season, which Allen narrowly won.
However, Mahomes' ability to perform in the most significant moments is indisputable, as evidenced by his dominance in the AFC. Even in a down year in 2024 as a full-season starter, Mahomes' 3,928 passing yards were the lowest of his career, and his 26 touchdown passes were tied for the lowest of his career. However, Mahomes led his team to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs beat Allen's Bills in the AFC Championship Game, after the Bills defeated Jackson's Ravens in the round before. The year before, Mahomes beat Allen's Bills in the divisional round before taking care of Jackson's Ravens in the conference championship.
Overall, Mahomes' presence has given the Chiefs a stranglehold on the AFC, a conference that also features Allen, Jackson and Joe Burrow. Aside from a one-year Burrow cameo in the Super Bowl, it's been Mahomes on the biggest stage for more than half a decade.