The 20 Best Madden Cover Athletes of All Time

Box-art stars of EA's football series, including the fan-vote surprises and the player whose digital version broke the game.

1. 1
   Michael Vick

   Madden NFL 2004 cover star, often called the most overpowered player the series ever had.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Calvin Johnson

   Madden NFL 13 cover athlete who then set the single-season receiving yards record.
   789pts
3. 3
   Eddie George

   Madden NFL 2001 cover athlete for the Titans.
   663pts
4. 4
   Odell Beckham Jr.

   Madden NFL 16 cover athlete, picked after his one-handed catch went viral.
   663pts
5. 5
   Daunte Culpepper

   Madden NFL 2002 cover athlete for the Vikings.
   546pts
6. 6
   Christian McCaffrey

   Cover athlete of the 2024 edition, Madden NFL 25, after his Offensive Player of the Year season.
   546pts
7. 7
   Larry Fitzgerald

   Shared the Madden NFL 10 cover after Arizona's Super Bowl run.
   473pts
8. 8
   Shaun Alexander

   Madden NFL 07 cover athlete after his 28-touchdown MVP season.
   473pts
9. 9
   Troy Polamalu

   Shared the Madden NFL 10 cover with Larry Fitzgerald.
   387pts
10. 10
    Tom Brady

    Cover athlete of Madden NFL 18, then shared the Madden NFL 22 cover with Patrick Mahomes.
    387pts
11. 11
    Patrick Mahomes

    Cover athlete of Madden NFL 20 and, alongside Tom Brady, of Madden NFL 22.
    387pts
12. 12
    Ray Lewis

    Madden NFL 2005 cover, the first defensive player to front the game.
    387pts
13. 13
    Adrian Peterson

    Shared the 2013 anniversary edition, Madden NFL 25, with Barry Sanders.
    387pts
14. 14
    Barry Sanders

    Fan-voted cover of Madden NFL 25, the 2013 anniversary edition.
    284pts
15. 15
    Peyton Hillis

    Browns running back who won the fan vote for the Madden NFL 12 cover.
    284pts
16. 16
    Rob Gronkowski

    Madden NFL 17 cover athlete and the Patriots' record-setting tight end.
    284pts
17. 17
    Lamar Jackson

    Madden NFL 21 cover athlete after his unanimous 2019 MVP season.
    0pts
18. 18
    Josh Allen

    Cover athlete of Madden NFL 24, chosen after his breakout seasons in Buffalo.
    0pts
19. 19
    Brett Favre

    Madden NFL 09 cover athlete, released the summer he left Green Bay.
    0pts
20. 20
    Drew Brees

    Madden NFL 11 cover athlete after the Saints' first Super Bowl title.
    0pts

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