Madden has been the most popular football game for decades, dating all the way back to the ’90s.
With Madden NFL 25 approaching this fall, there will be a lot of discussion about the top players in the game. However, who are some of the best Madden players of all time?
Most Unstoppable Madden Players of All Time
Every year, there is an exclusive group called the “Madden 99 Club,” which consists of players given a 99 rating. Over the years, there have been quite a few 99 overall players.
However, there have been some players who were just too good and received a triple-digit rating in Madden. Let’s examine the players who were virtually unstoppable in Madden.
Jerry Rice, 1997 (189 Overall)
The highest rating ever given out in Madden was to Jerry Rice, and it isn’t close. All the way back in Madden 98, Rice was given the infamous 189 rating. It shouldn’t be too surprising, though, as Rice has his name all over the record books and played all the way into his 40s.
Barry Sanders, 1999 (100 Overall)
Similar to Rice, there’s no questioning why Barry Sanders got one of only seven 100 overall ratings Madden has given out.
As arguably the best running back in NFL history, Sanders was just as elusive in the game as he was on the gridiron. He is the only true running back — not fullback — to get the honor.
Deion Sanders, 1999 and 2000 (100 Overall)
While he isn’t the only player to ever get a 100 overall rating, Deion Sanders is the only player to do it twice, having received a triple-digit rating in both Madden 1999 and 2000.
MORE: History of the Madden Cover: Every Player Who Has Earned the Honor
As the only cornerback to ever get the 100 honor in general, Sanders has an argument for the greatest Madden player and cornerback ever.
Tony Boselli, 1999 (100 Overall)
Of course, the offensive line has to get some love, with the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ only Hall of Famer earning the honor of being the only 100 overall offensive lineman in Madden history. He used to give Hall of Famers battles on the field, but also in the game.
Shannon Sharpe, 1999 (100 Overall)
One of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game is also one of the best Madden players of all time. Before becoming an analyst on TV, Shannon Sharpe was a Hall of Famer on the field and a legendary player in the game.
Mark Chmura, 1999 (100 Overall)
Another tight end to grace the 100 club is Mark Chmura, who was a dominant force for the Green Bay Packers. In the year he earned the honor, Chmura was coming off of a Pro Bowl season. He wasn’t much of a receiving threat, but he was a machine in terms of blocking.
Mike Alstott, 2000 (100 Overall)
While Barry Sanders was the only running back to ever earn the 100 overall honors, Mike Alstott was the only fullback to do it. He was also the only 100 overall player in Madden NFL 2000 besides Deion Sanders.
Michael Vick, 2004 (90 Overall)
While Michael Vick may not have the highest overall rating of anyone on the list, he might be the most memorable (and most fun) player to use in the game.
With his speed and athleticism that made him great in the NFL, Vick was all but unstoppable when it came to Madden, too.
On this day in 2003, one of the greatest video games was released. @MichaelVick shared his memories about gracing the cover @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/D99qJ5v0xg
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 12, 2022
LaDainian Tomlinson, 2008 (98 Overall)
The later the date, the harder it became to get a higher rating. For LaDainian Tomlinson, he was just like Sanders in terms of being tough to bring down.
KEEP READING: Predicting Each NFL Team’s Rating in Madden NFL 25
However, the sheer number of touchdowns he scored made him unstoppable and earned him a historic spot in Madden history.
Randy Moss, 2001 (98 Overall)
Like Tomlinson was to Sanders, Randy Moss is to Rice. While he didn’t get the 189 overall rating, Moss was an incredible deep threat that you’d find yourself lobbing deep balls to all game long. The thing is, that happened in real games, too.