Madden 26 ratings 99 club: Who are the 99 overall players for 2025?

Teddy Ricketson

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Madden 26 ratings 99 club: Who are the 99 overall players for 2025? image

Football season is here, which means that it is time for another iteration of the iconic Madden video game franchise. The annual release sparks considerable debate, as the developers assign each player a rating at the start of the year.

From strength to speed, players tend to gripe with their ratings. While the majority of players find some attribute to argue or plead their case for, a select group of players are awarded with a 99 overall player — the max rating — at the start of the game. Since only a handful of players get the rating at the start of each season, the distinguished '99 Club' was born. Players are usually given something to symbolize this recognition, such as a blinged-out "99" chain. 

In years past, EA Sports has released Madden ratings by position group. This year, they are starting with the 99 Club on Monday. This will be followed by rookie ratings on Tuesday, offense reveals on Wednesday, defense reveals on Thursday, and then all of the reveals and superstar X-Factor abilities released on Friday. 

MORE MADDEN: What is the 'Madden Curse?' | How John Madden became face of football video games

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Here's more on the 99 Club for Madden 26.

'Madden 26' 99 Club

Madden 26 will have seven players in the 99 Club to start the season. 

  • Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
  • Eagles OL Lane Johnson
  • Bills QB Josh Allen
  • Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
  • Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
  • Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
  • Browns DE Myles Garrett

Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

Ahead of last season, the Giants decided to let Barkley walk in free agency. He joined the divisional-rival Eagles and went on to put up one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory. Barkley sat out the final game of the season and still managed to post 2,005 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns on the ground while adding another 278 yards and two touchdowns through the air. 

He finished just 101 yards short of Eric Dickerson's all-time record for rushing yards in a season. Along the way to winning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley backwards hurdled over a Jaguars defender, creating an instant viral highlight. A re-creation of it is gracing the Madden 26 cover. 

Lane Johnson, OL, Eagles

In front of every great running back is a great offensive line. Johnson is the top option among Philly's star-studded offensive linemen. The 35-year-old's career is winding down, but he is currently signed with the Eagles through the 2028 season thanks to options in his deal. 

Josh Allen, QB, Bills

Since the start of the '99 Club' with Madden 20, no reigning MVP has started that year's game with a 99 overall rating. That changes in Madden 26. Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions last year, adding another 531 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns to his resume, which earned him the 2024 NFL MVP Award.

While the argument against him is that he still needs to get Buffalo past its nemesis, Kansas City, in the playoffs, he can focus on doing that this year with a 99 rating in Madden. 

MORE MADDEN: Early look at Madden 26 new features

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Chase became the fifth receiver in history to win the WR triple crown, leading all players in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) in 2024. Chase doesn't have the marketable touchdown dance like Justin Jefferson of the Vikings, but he showed in 2024 that he was deserving of the highest possible rating to start the Madden 26 game cycle. 

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

Offense looks like it will be the name of the game in Madden 26. Players will have to deal with a 99 overall Allen and a 99 overall dual-threat Lamar Jackson. To make matters worse, they gave Jackson 96 speed out of the gate. For reference, he is the fastest player in the 99 Club to start the year. 

Jackson has a career-high 4,172 passing yards in 2024 with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. Despite his winning two MVPs previously and not in 2024, last season was the best passing season of his seven-year career. Jackson added 915 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. 

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Jefferson was overshadowed by Chase in 2024, but he still had an impressive season. He finished with 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jefferson has tallied at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his five seasons so far, and his 10 scores from 2024 tied a career-high. This means that players can expect to drop the Griddy on opponents again in Madden 26. The iconic dance was invented because Jefferson's mom called him boring on the field. Now, it is one of the most emulated celebrations across sports. 

This is the third time that the Vikings' wide receiver has been named to Madden's 99 Club to start a season. He was a 74 overall when he was a rookie, but now has been a 99 for three consecutive iterations of the game. 

Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

Garrett is the lone defensive player to earn a spot in the 99 Club, with many fans believing that reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II was snubbed. 

Garrett is still one of the best defenders in the league and will terrorize quarterbacks in the game. He notched 14 sacks last season, the second consecutive season that he has finished with that many. Garrett has played in the NFL for eight years and already has 102.5 career sacks to his credit. Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks are a long way off, but Garrett has forged a strong foundation so far. 

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.