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 ratings

Madden has issued 135 total 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

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

Madden NFL 27

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 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 re...

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →