Madden NFL Covers — A Complete Visual History: 1988 to Madden 24
When we talk about famous video game franchises, characters like Mario, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and Sonic the Hedgehog often come to mind. For a lot of gamers, though, John Madden is the biggest icon in the industry, at least within the realm of sports games. Since 1988, the franchise has sold billions of dollars worth of games. And just like the game has evolved, so too have the Madden NFL covers.
Ultimate Madden NFL Covers Gallery and Guide
Guide
Madden NFL Cover History
The first video game featuring the iconic football personality came out in 1988, primarily for computers running MS-DOS. The second version of John Madden Football, which arrived in 1990, was the first for consoles, running on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis platforms.
For more than two decades, the graphics and gameplay have continued to improve. While they started out as primitive pixels, it is now more lifelike than ever.
Over the years, Madden NFL covers have changed as well. Until 2000, John Madden figured prominently on the game fronts. It is worth noting that some of the early PAL versions of the game that were distributed primarily in Europe had players on them.
Beginning in 2000, the overall focus shifted to NFL stars. Brett Favre, Drew Brees and Marshall Faulk are some of the bigger names to appear on Madden NFL covers. Others, though, haven't fared so well. Vince Young and Peyton Hillis, who was a surprise vote-in choice for Madden NFL 12, come to mind. And there is also that pesky curse that is rumored to plague the cover athletes.
Recent Madden NFL Video Games and Figures
Among the more recent editions, Madden NFL 16 shows Odell Beckham Jr.'s instant-classic, one-handed grab.
Madden NFL 17 goes with the Gronk and a ferocious football slam. The notorious playboy and all-world tight end, Rob Gronkowski is one of the most well-known players in the NFL. He is also the first tight end to ever grace the cover of the game.
Up next in 2017, the Madden NFL 18 cover opts for the man, the myth, the legend: Mr. Tom Brady.
For Madden NFL 19, HOF inductee Terrell Owens graces the Hall of Fame Edition, and wide receiver Antonio Brown is on the main cover.
For Madden NFL 20, it's none other than Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback. Mahomes actually has three different covers, including a standard version, Superstar Edition and Ultimate Superstar Edition.
Madden NFL 21 selected Lamar Jackson as the cover athlete for the 2020 edition of the game.
For Madden NFL 22, EA teased "two GOATS" in the leadup. The end result was a dual-player cover featuring Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Honoring the man himself, Madden NFL 23 features the coach, broadcaster and video game legend, John Madden, on the cover.
Continuing to prioritize quarterbacks, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills gets the cover for Madden NFL 24.
Madden McFarlane Figures
Similar to Madden 17 and Madden 18, there is a figure collectible associated with Madden NFL 19. McFarlane Madden NFL 19 Ultimate Team offers a line of seven-inch figures that come with in-game codes for the 2018 game.
With the gallery below, you can see not only how Madden NFL covers have evolved over the years, but the systems as well.
Gallery
Madden NFL Covers Through the Years Gallery
Click on the listings or images to shop for available games.
1988 - John Madden Football
Main Systems: PC
1990 - John Madden Football
Main Systems: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo
1991 - John Madden Football II
Main Systems: PC
1991 - John Madden Football '92
Main Systems: Sega Genesis
1992 - John Madden Football '93
Main Systems: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo
1993 - Madden NFL '94
Main Systems: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo
1994 - Madden NFL 95
Main Systems: Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo
1995 - Madden NFL 96
Main Systems: Game Boy, Game Gear, PC, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo
1996 - Madden NFL 97
Main Systems: Game Boy, PC, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo
1997 - Madden NFL 98, Madden NFL 64
Main Systems: Game Boy, PC, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 (NFL 64 only)
1998 - Madden NFL 99
Main Systems: Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation
1999 - Madden NFL 2000
Main Systems: Game Boy Color, Mac, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation
On the Cover: Barry Sanders (Background)
2000 - Madden NFL 2001 - Eddie George
Main Systems: Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2
On the Cover: Eddie George
2001 - Madden NFL 2002 - Daunte Culpepper
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Dante Culpepper
2002 - Madden NFL 2003 - Marshall Faulk
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Marshall Faulk
2003 - Madden NFL 2004 - Michael Vick
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Michael Vick
2004 - Madden NFL 2005 - Ray Lewis
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Ray Lewis
2005 - Madden NFL 06 - Donovan McNabb
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Donovan McNabb
2006 - Madden NFL 07 - Shaun Alexander
Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, PC, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Cube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Shaun Alexander
2007 - Madden NFL 08 - Vince Young
Main Systems: Mac, PC, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Cube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Vince Young
2008 - Madden NFL 09 - Brett Favre
Main Systems: Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Brett Favre
2009 - Madden NFL 10 - Troy Polamalu / Larry Fitzgerald
Main Systems: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Troy Polamalu, Larry Fitzgerald
2010 - Madden NFL 11 - Drew Brees
Main Systems: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Drew Brees
2011 - Madden NFL 12 - Peyton Hillis
Main Systems: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Peyton Hillis
2012 - Madden NFL 13 - Calvin Johnson
- Buy on eBay.
Main Systems: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Calvin Johnson
2013 - Madden NFL 25: 1989 to 2014 - Barry Sanders
Main Systems: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360
On the Cover: Barry Sanders
2013 - Madden NFL 25: 1989 to 2014 - Adrian Peterson
Main Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
On the Cover: Adrian Peterson
2014 - Madden NFL 15 - Richard Sherman
Main Systems: PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
On the Cover: Richard Sherman
2015 - Madden NFL 16 - Odell Beckham Jr.
Main Systems: PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
On the Cover: Odell Beckham Jr.
2016 - Madden NFL 17 - Rob Gronkowski
Main Systems: PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
On the Cover: Rob Gronkowski
2017 - Madden NFL 18 - Tom Brady
Standard
G.O.A.T. Edition
Main Systems: PS4, Xbox One
On the Cover: Tom Brady
2018 - Madden NFL 19 - Antonio Brown
Standard - Antonio Brown
Hall of Fame Edition - Terrell Owens
Main Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC
On the Cover: Main - Antonio Brown; HOF - Terrell Owens
2019 - Madden NFL 20 - Patrick Mahomes II
Standard
Superstar Edition
Ultimate Superstar Edition
Main Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC
On the Cover: Patrick Mahomes
2020 - Madden NFL 21 - Lamar Jackson
Standard
MVP Edition
Deluxe Edition
Main Systems: PS4, Xbox One
On the Cover: Lamar Jackson
2021 - Madden NFL 22 - Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes
Standard
MVP Edition
SteelBook - Bo Jackson
Main Systems: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia, PC
On the Cover: Tom Brady & Patrick Mahomes
2022 - Madden NFL 23 - John Madden
Standard
All-Madden Edition
Main Systems: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
On the Cover: John Madden
Madden 24
2023 - Madden NFL 24 - Josh Allen
Releases August 18, 2023.
Standard
Deluxe Edition
Main Systems: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
On the Cover: Josh Allen
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