# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published October 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-20-best-madden-cover-athletes-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Michael Vick** — score 1000/1000
   Madden NFL 2004 cover star, often called the most overpowered player the series ever had.
2. **Calvin Johnson** — score 789/1000
   Madden NFL 13 cover athlete who then set the single-season receiving yards record.
3. **Eddie George** — score 663/1000
   Madden NFL 2001 cover athlete for the Titans.
4. **Odell Beckham Jr.** — score 663/1000
   Madden NFL 16 cover athlete, picked after his one-handed catch went viral.
5. **Daunte Culpepper** — score 546/1000
   Madden NFL 2002 cover athlete for the Vikings.
6. **Christian McCaffrey** — score 546/1000
   Cover athlete of the 2024 edition, Madden NFL 25, after his Offensive Player of the Year season.
7. **Larry Fitzgerald** — score 473/1000
   Shared the Madden NFL 10 cover after Arizona's Super Bowl run.
8. **Shaun Alexander** — score 473/1000
   Madden NFL 07 cover athlete after his 28-touchdown MVP season.
9. **Troy Polamalu** — score 387/1000
   Shared the Madden NFL 10 cover with Larry Fitzgerald.
10. **Tom Brady** — score 387/1000
   Cover athlete of Madden NFL 18, then shared the Madden NFL 22 cover with Patrick Mahomes.
11. **Patrick Mahomes** — score 387/1000
   Cover athlete of Madden NFL 20 and, alongside Tom Brady, of Madden NFL 22.
12. **Ray Lewis** — score 387/1000
   Madden NFL 2005 cover, the first defensive player to front the game.
13. **Adrian Peterson** — score 387/1000
   Shared the 2013 anniversary edition, Madden NFL 25, with Barry Sanders.
14. **Barry Sanders** — score 284/1000
   Fan-voted cover of Madden NFL 25, the 2013 anniversary edition.
15. **Peyton Hillis** — score 284/1000
   Browns running back who won the fan vote for the Madden NFL 12 cover.
16. **Rob Gronkowski** — score 284/1000
   Madden NFL 17 cover athlete and the Patriots' record-setting tight end.
17. **Lamar Jackson** — score 0/1000
   Madden NFL 21 cover athlete after his unanimous 2019 MVP season.
18. **Josh Allen** — score 0/1000
   Cover athlete of Madden NFL 24, chosen after his breakout seasons in Buffalo.
19. **Brett Favre** — score 0/1000
   Madden NFL 09 cover athlete, released the summer he left Green Bay.
20. **Drew Brees** — score 0/1000
   Madden NFL 11 cover athlete after the Saints' first Super Bowl title.

Tags: video-games, football, nfl, madden nfl