The Magnificent Seven were chosen for Madden 26’s “99 Club”. As ever, the selection divides opinion. Photo via https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1949823432851419145/photo/1
If you want to find a good example of how arguments about sports topics play out on social media, go to X, Facebook, or Reddit and search for “Madden 99 Club. ” Grab the popcorn and sit back to watch the drama unfold.
The 99 Club, of course, refers to the players who are given an overall rating in the Madden video game series. The score of 99 indicates near perfection, and only a handful of players make the grade with each release of the next installment in the Madden series.
Seven players made the grade for Madden 26, which releases on August 14. They are:
Saquon Barkley
Position: Running Back Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is the cover athlete for Madden 26 and celebrated winner of Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for over 2,000 yards and helping lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX title.
Position: Right Tackle Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Johnson has been newly inducted into the 99 Club. He is one of just five offensive tackles rated 99 at launch in Madden history.
Position: Wide Receiver Team: Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is returning to the 99 Club for his third time (Madden 24, mid-season Madden 25 update, and Madden 26 launch.
Position: Wide Receiver Team: Cincinnati Bengals
The first-ever Bengal to reach a 99 rating, he was coming off a Triple Crown season, leading the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
Position: Quarterback Team: Baltimore Ravens
Jackson joins Josh Allen as the second QB in Madden 26 with a 99 rating. He finally gets it after multiple MVP seasons, and now some will wonder if he can finally get his hands on a Super Bowl ring.
Position: Quarterback Team: Buffalo Bills
The reigning NFL MVP, so his inclusion felt fairly obvious. It will be interesting to see if he can hit the heights again this season
Position: Defensive End / Edge RusherTeam: Cleveland Browns
Browns’ star Garret is the only defensive player among the seven. He is a returning member of the launch-day 99 Club (joined originally in Madden 23)
The fallout
Does the inclusion matter? These metrics matter to fantasy sports players, bettors trying to work out the betting value in game NFL lines, and competitive Madden players. Yet, the announcement is always greeted by an outcry from fans of those ‘not’ included. Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, T.J. Watt, and Patrick Surtain II were among those names trending on social media, although they were still scored from 95-98.
The marketing genius
The 99 Club started trending in late July when EA Sports released the preview. Whatever your take on who should and shouldn’t be in the club, one must admit that it is clever marketing. It sparks debate across multiple platforms, leads to news stories about those debates, and leads to a lot of free advertising for EA Sports’ upcoming Madden 26 release. And for those angry at the rankings, which many people on social media seem to be, it’s worth remembering that the game can be updated at different junctures throughout the season, upgrading star performers in the real NFL to the 99 Club, and potentially demoting those who have failed to live up to the tag.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
