Ravens QB Makes Madden NFL 99 Club for First Time in Career

For the first time since joining the NFL in 2018, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has officially been inducted into the EA Sports Madden NFL 99 Club in this year's upcoming Madden NFL 26, releasing on August 14th, 2025. Jackson made the Madden 25 99 Club halfway through the 2024 season, along with teammate Derrick Henry, making them the first duo to be upgraded to the highest achievement in game history. The last Raven to be rated as a 99 overall player in Madden was Ed Reed in Madden NFL 08. Other Ravens to have achieved this are Ray Lewis, who was a 99 in Madden for five consecutive years from Madden 01 to Madden 05, Ed Reed from Madden 05 to Madden 08, and Jonathan Ogden, who was a 99 overall in the 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2005 versions of the game.

When Lamar was drafted to the Ravens 32nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, the former Heisman winner from Louisville was officially in the game in Madden 19, ranked as an 79 overall. The low rating is not uncommon for rookies who have yet to prove their value. After only playing in seven games his rookie year and losing in the first round of the playoffs, Jackson’s Madden 20 rating dropped to a 76 overall before the start of the 2019 season. Jackson happened to have an incredible 2019 season, breaking Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record by a QB, achieving a 14-2 record, number one seed, and unanimous MVP. The stellar season by Jackson earned him the honors of being the cover athlete for Madden NFL 21 and a huge boost to his release date ratings, becoming a 94 overall on the release. Jackson then struggled to stay on the field during the 2020-2022 seasons, resulting in a drop in his rating to a 91 in Madden 22, 87 in Madden 23, before returning to a 91 overall in Madden 24. During Jackson’s second MVP campaign, his Madden 24 rating was increased to a 98 overall, which followed him into Madden 25, which also increased to 99 around December. The pattern continues as Lamar had his final patch rating of 99, follow him into the upcoming game.

Jackson joins six players who are a mix of new faces to the club and a few who have been here before. Jackson, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Maar Chase, Philadelphia Eagles OT Lane Johnson, and new Madden NFL 26 cover athlete RB Saquon Barkley headline the new additions to the NFL Club. Making their second appearance on the list are Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett and Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, who were last a 99 overall on launch in Madden 23 and Madden 24, respectively. No player from the Madden 25 list was given the honor for Madden 26. The ratings are subject to change in either direction based on performance throughout the season, as players could underperform and be removed, or break out and be added later in the season. More ratings will be announced as the release date gets closer.