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What is Madden's 99 club? History of NFL video game's top-rated players

What is Madden's 99 club? History of NFL video game's top-rated players

USA Today6 days ago
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.
MADDEN 99 CLUB: Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen highlight top-rated players for 2025
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:
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:
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:
Deion Sanders is the lone player to receive multiple 100 overall ratings.
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