EA Sports announced the six NFL stars who will boast a 99 rating, the highest possible rating for a player, in the upcoming “Madden NFL 27” video game on Monday.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Los Angeles Rams QB (and reigning NFL MVP) Matthew Stafford, Rams defensive end Myles Garrett, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride are the members of this season’s 99 Club.
Allen, Chase, and Garrett are in the 99 Club for the second consecutive season. (For Garrett, this is his third 99 rating overall.) Stafford, Smith-Njigba and McBride drew a 99 rating in the game for the first time.
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Smith-Njigba won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award for tallying 116 receptions for a league-leading 1,793 yards with 10 touchdowns for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks last season.
Stafford may be the most notable addition to the 99 Club, earning the rating in his 18th NFL season after winning his first MVP award for the 2025-26 campaign. He led the league with 4.707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns for a Rams team that finished 12-5 and advanced to the NFC championship game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
The choice that raised eyebrows among fans was McBride. However, the fifth-year tight end put up outstanding numbers last season with 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 TDs. He had 38 more catches and 311 more receiving than the next closest tight end (Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons), while tying for the most TDs (with Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert). McBride was the only TE to finish with 1,000 receiving yards last season.
“All the guys on the team will throw it out there and rub it in my face,” McBride told reporters. “It’s very exciting, very cool. It’s a huge honor and something I’m very proud of.”
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was revealed as the cover star for “Madden NFL 27” in early June. The game will be released on Aug. 13.
