The annual reveal of Madden ratings has become a popular moment for NFL players, fans, and gamers alike. Most importantly, the unveiling of the cover athlete, the highest overall teams, and the top players who are awarded a perfect rating of 99 overall garners the majority of the hype.
The Patriots will be represented in the 99 club in Madden 21 with reigning defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore tabbed as the highest defensive back in the game with a 99. Gilmore joins a lengthy list of Patriots standouts in the Madden ratings.
The Patriots 99 Club
Madden 99 – Ben Coates
Patriots Hall of Famer Ben Coates received a 99 overall rating in the 1999 version of Madden NFL. Coates was coming off of solid 1997 and 1998 seasons. He received Pro Bowl honors in 1997 with 66 receptions for 737 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. He was also a 1998 Pro Bowler when he caught 67 passes for 668 yards and six touchdowns.
Madden 04 – Adam Vinatieri
Super Bowl XXXVI hero Adam Vinatieri was the highest rated kicker in Madden 2004. The sure-footed Vinatieri lived up to his Madden rating in the 2003 season when he found himself sitting at midfield with a chance to win the Super Bowl yet again. Oh, he made the kick. the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII (double hero).
Madden 06 – Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri’s dominance in the kick game continued into Madden 06 when he received his second 99 overall rating in three years. Vinatieri landed a 99 overall rating for his incredible 2004 season when he earned Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors while scoring a career high 141 points on the season (not including his 4 yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown).
Madden 09 – Tom Brady and Randy Moss
Tom Brady saw his first 99 overall rating of his career in the 2009 edition of Madden. Brady was also joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss in the 99 club. Brady and Moss earned these perfect ratings after their record breaking 2007 seasons which saw Brady set a new single-season touchdown passing record (50) and Moss set a new single season touchdown receptions record (23) on their way to a perfect regular season.
Madden 12 – Tom Brady
Madden 12 Tom Brady was created based on Brady’s MVP performance during the 2010 season when he earned the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award while throwing for 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns. It was no surprise Tom Brady appeared in Madden 2012 with a 99 overall rating.
Madden 16 – Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski’s first 99 overall rating came following an All-Pro season in 2014-15 which saw the big tight end catch 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronk lived up to his 99 reputation on the field in 2015. With more than 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, Gronk proved to be a top threat at the tight end position.
Madden 17 – Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski became the first Patriots player to earn back-to-back 99 overall ratings in Madden 16 and Madden 17. His 2015 season, in which he totaled 72 receptions for 1,176 and 11 touchdowns was more than enough for Gronk to maintain his perfect rating for the second straight year.
Madden 18 – Tom Brady
Tom Brady once again landed a 99 overall rating and he lived up to his expectations. Brady’s 4,577 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in the 2017 season earned him the league’s MVP award. Brady was one of the most dominant players in Madden and in real life.
Madden 19 – Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski
Tom Brady’s Most Valuable Player performance in the 2017 season set him up to earn his second straight 99 overall rating. Brady was joined by his top weapon, Rob Gronkowski, who earned his third perfect rating in Madden. Gronkowski was also coming off an impressive 2017 season. Gronk’s Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro season made him the top ranked tight end in the game.
Madden 21 – Stephon Gilmore
Stephon Gilmore earned a 99 Madden rating following an incredible 2019 season in which Gilmore led the NFL in interceptions (6 – tied for most), passes defended (20) and earned the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Gilmore established himself as one of the best shut down corners in the league, Madden rewarded his talents with a perfect 99 – the highest rated defensive back in Madden 21.
Top Team
Madden 05 – 99 overall, highest rated team in the game
After securing the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship, the Patriots were the highest-ranked team in Madden with a perfect 99 overall rating. Currently, this is the only Patriots team to receive a 99 overall team rating in Madden.
Madden 06 – 97 overall, highest rated team in the game
Coming of their third Super Bowl in four years, the reigning Super Bowl XXXIX champions were deserving of the highest-rated team in Madden. With many of their Super Bowl champion starters returning on both sides of the ball, it was no surprise to see the Patriots at the top of the Madden rankings yet again.
Madden 08 – 97 overall, highest rated team in the game
Before the 2007 season, the Patriots revamped their roster with fresh offensive weapons. Madden awarded the offseason efforts with a 97 overall team rating, the highest in the game. The Patriots more than lived up to that expectation during the 2007 perfect 16-0 regular season.
Madden 09 – 97 overall, highest rated team in the game
Following a record setting season the year prior, the Madden 09 Patriots were atop the Madden team rankings yet again. The 2007 Patriots season performance earned New England the best team rating in Madden the year after. Brady’s knee injured helped derail the 2008 seasonm but he was back for 2009.
Madden 10 – 93 overall, highest rated team in the game
Tom Brady’s post-injury return gave Madden creators the confidence that the Patriots would return to dominance. That Patriots went on to win the AFC East and make another postseason appearance. The Patriots were the highest ranked team for the third straight year.
Madden 13 – 91 overall, tied for the highest rated team in the game
After an incredible 2011 season that landed the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, Madden returned the Patriots to the top of the ratings. Despite returning many of their Super Bowl XLVI starters, the Patriots fell to Baltimore in the AFC Championship game that year.
Madden 16 – 91 overall, tied for the highest rated team in the game
Coming off a 12-4 season which ended in a Super Bowl XLIX victory, Madden awarded the Patriots a 91 overall team rating, tied for the highest rating in the game. The Patriots maintained that consistency on the field when they finished the 2015 NFL season 12-4, falling just 2 points short of another Super Bowl appearance.
Madden 17 – 87 overall, tied for the highest rated team in the game
As the Patriots prepared to enter their 2016 season, Madden anticipated a successful year for the Patriots. Despite only posting an 87 overall team rating, the Patriots remained the best team in Madden for the second straight season. On the field, the Patriots also turned out to be the best team that season. The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI to secure their 5th championship.
Madden 18 – 93 overall, highest rated team in the game
The Patriots were the highest ranked team for the 3rd straight year in Madden 18. After completing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, the reigning Super Bowl champions garnered a 93 overall team rating. The Patriots justified that rating when they returned to the Super Bowl for the second straight season.
Patriots Covers
Madden 17 Cover – Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski became the first Patriots player to appear on the cover of Madden in 2017. After his Pro Bowl and All-Pro 2015 season, in which he had 72 receptions for 1,176 yards and 11 touchdowns, Gronk was represented on the famous Madden cover. Gronk graced the cover in his Patriots uniform striking a pose from his famous Gronk Spike.
Madden 18 Cover – Tom Brady
Madden featured players from the same team on back-to-back covers for the second time in the game’s history (Detroit Lions – Calvin Johnson 2013, Barry Sanders Madden 2014). Tom Brady has only appeared on one Madden game cover throughout his impressive career. After leading his team to the greatest Super Bowl comeback ever, Brady found himself on the cover of Madden 18. That season, Madden released a more advanced copy of the game with Brady on the cover, which they titled “G.O.A.T. Edition”.
