EA Sports quietly dropped the Madden 27 99 Club list on Monday and it’s got a couple of surprises. The annual tradition of handing out the game’s highest overall rating to a small group of NFL stars is here again, and this year six players got the nod. For anyone who’s been living under a rock, the 99 Club is basically the VIP section of Madden ratings. You get a 99 overall rating and the game treats you like a superhero on the field.
The list includes some familiar faces and a few names that weren’t on anybody’s bingo card. Here’s the full rundown of who made it:
- 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
Six members is a bit higher than the usual five we see at launch, but last year EA started expanding the group. So this isn’t totally out of left field. Let’s break down each player and why they’re here.
Ja’Marr Chase
Chase is back in the 99 Club after another monster season. The dude caught 125 balls on over 180 targets and put up 1,400 receiving yards. Here’s the wild part: Joe Burrow only started eight games. Chase still produced at an elite level with Joe Flacco and Jake Browning throwing him the ball. If Burrow stays healthy for a full season, Chase might put up numbers that break the game entirely.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
JSN might be the most obvious addition on this list. He led the league in receiving yards in 2025 and won Super Bowl LX with the Seahawks. He finished top 10 in basically every receiving category: fourth in catches (119), tied for sixth in touchdowns (10), and averaged over 15 yards per catch. Sam Darnold trusted him in the biggest moments and it paid off with a ring.
Josh Allen
The 2024 MVP is back in the club for the second time in his career. Allen’s 2025 stat line was ridiculous: 39 total touchdowns, over 4,000 total yards, and a career-high 69.3% completion rate. He also led the league in playoff completion percentage. The guy has won almost every individual award there is. The only thing missing is a Lombardi Trophy. Maybe this year.
Myles Garrett
Garrett broke Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record last year with 23 sacks and he’s already one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history. This offseason he got traded to the Rams, who are desperate for defensive help. He probably won’t hit 24 sacks this season, but he’ll make an immediate impact in that L.A. front seven.
Matthew Stafford
Stafford won the 2025 MVP award and he’s still throwing like he’s 28 years old. Last season he tossed 46 touchdowns against just eight interceptions while piling up over 4,700 yards. The only QB who came close was Jared Goff with 34 touchdowns and 4,500 yards. Stafford’s accuracy and arm strength are still elite. He earned this spot.
Trey McBride
McBride has quietly turned into one of the best tight ends in the league over the last two seasons. Combined over those two years he’s got 2,384 receiving yards on 237 catches and scored 11 touchdowns last season alone. He was the only bright spot on a Cardinals team that struggled badly. Jacoby Brissett is back in Arizona and the chemistry between those two could mean another huge year for McBride.
Last year’s launch 99 Club included Garrett, Chase, Allen, Justin Jefferson, Lane Johnson, Lamar Jackson, and cover athlete Saquon Barkley. Only three of those seven made it back this year. That’s just how Madden works. Ratings shift based on performance and the list will change as the season goes on. EA drops weekly roster updates throughout the regular season so players can get added or removed based on what happens on the field.
Madden 27 drops in August. For now the full ratings hub is live and will get updated between now and launch. We’ll be watching to see which players earn their way into the club and who gets kicked out. That’s the fun part.
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