What is Madden's 99 club? Complete History of NFL video game's top-rated players in every edition since 1999.

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 from 1999 to Madden NFL 2026.

Madden has issued 129 total 99 overall ratings since the release of Madden 99. They are as follows at Sportshistori.com:

Madden NFL 99: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers

Barry Sanders, RB, Lions

Matt Turk, P, Redskins

Madden NFL 2002: Top-Rated Players List

Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs

Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens

Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens

Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers

Madden NFL 2003: Top-Rated Players List

Larry Allen, G, Cowboys

Marshall Faulk, RB, Rams

Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens

Warren Sapp, DT, Buccaneers

Michael Strahan, DE, Giants

Madden NFL 2004: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos

Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens

Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens

Mike Vanderjagt, K, Colts

Madden NFL 06: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos

Peyton Manning, QB, Colts

Ed Reed, FS, Ravens

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears

Madden NFL 09: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers

Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets

Madden NFL 13: Top-Rated Players List

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): Top-Rated Players List

Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings

J.J. Watt, DE, Texans

Madden NFL 15: Top-Rated Players List

Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks

J.J. Watt, DE, Texans

Madden NFL 16: Top-Rated Players List

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

J.J. Watt, DE, Texans

Madden NFL 17: Top-Rated Players List

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

Luke Kuechly, MLB, Panthers

Von Miller, OLB, Broncos

J.J. Watt, DE, Texans

Madden NFL 18: Top-Rated Players List

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

Aaron Donald, DE. Rams

Von Miller, OLB, Broncos

Madden NFL 19: Top-Rated Players List

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: Top-Rated Players List

Aaron Donald, DE, Rams

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans

Khalil Mack, OLB, Bears

Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seahawks

Madden NFL 21: Top-Rated Players List

Aaron Donald, DE, Rams

Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers

Michael Thomas, WR, Saints

Madden NFL 22: Top-Rated Players List

Davante Adams, WR, Packers

Aaron Donald, DE, Rams

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams

Madden NFL 23: Top-Rated Players List

Davante Adams, WR, Raiders

Aaron Donald, DL, Rams

Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

Trent Williams, OT, 49ers

Madden NFL 24: Top-Rated Players List

Aaron Donald, DE, Rams

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Zack Martin, G, Cowboys

Madden NFL 25: Top-Rated Players List

Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

Trent Williams, OT, 49ers

Madden NFL 26: Top-Rated Players List

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.

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