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(#1) Adrian Peterson
- Running back
For Madden 25, EA Sports polled fans as to who should be on the cover. Legendary Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders defeated Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson to win the spot.
Ultimately EA Sports split the honor, leaving Sanders as the cover athlete for the XBox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, while going with Peterson for the next generation consoles, XBox One and PlayStation 4.
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(#2) Calvin Johnson
- Wide receiver
The Lions wide receiver was featured in the Madden Ultimate Team 10 collection. Strangely, though, he was added as a free safety, not a wide receiver.
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(#3) Drew Brees
- Quarterback
Bringing joy to an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl in 2010. As one bonus for the accomplishment, Brees was named the cover athlete for Madden NFL 2011.
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(#4) Ray Lewis
- Linebacker
Fierce linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was honored with the Madden NFL 2005 selection as one of the best at his position in the history of the game. Among other awards, Lewis helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV and became only the second linebacker to be selected as the Super Bowl MVP.
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(#5) Larry Fitzgerald
- Wide receiver
Alongside Troy Polamalu, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was the second player on the Madden NFL 2010 cover.
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(#6) Troy Polamalu
- Strong Safety
For the first time, the cover of Madden NFL featured two top football players for the 2010 edition. Safety Troy Polamalu, having just won the Super Bowl with his Pittsburgh Steelers, was one of the two selected.
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(#7) Barry Sanders
- Running back
Though not his best season, Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders was honored for his stellar career with a Madden NFL 2000 cover selection. During his career, Sanders won the Heisman Trophy, was selected as the NFL MVP and was arguably regarded as the best running back to play the game. Though Madden NFL 2000 featured John Madden in the foreground on the cover, Sanders can be seen in one edition of the game in the background.
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(#8) Marshall Faulk
- Running back
Before he was an analyst for the NFL Network, Marshall Faulk was a running back for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection earned the honor of appearing on Madden NFL 2003 late in his caree
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(#9) Michael Vick
- Quarterback
Quarterback Michael Vick was selected for the Madden NFL 2004 cover for his performance with the Atlanta Falcons. One day after the video game was released he broke his leg and missed the next 11 games. Other off-field issues, including a prison stay, followed in the next few years.
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(#10) Rob Gronkowski
- Tight end
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(#11) Patrick Mahomes II
- Quarterback
Coming off winnning an MVP award in his second season as the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes was chosen as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 20. Mahomes, 23 at the time of announcement, became the third-youngest player selected for the honor after Michael Vick and Odell Beckham Jr.
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(#12) Brett Favre
- Quarterback
To celebrate the end of a long career of legendary quarterback Brett Favre, EA Sports selected the former Green Bay Packer to appear on the cover of Madden NFL 2009 in his Packer green and yellow. Favre however had other plans and came out of retirement (for the first time) to join the New York Jets. Misfortune followed the cover athlete as he was implicated in a texting scandal in 2010.
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(#13) John Madden
- Offensive Lineman
The iconic Oakland Raiders coach and sportscaster was featured on the cover of Madden 2000.
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(#14) Donovan McNabb
- Quarterback
After leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, quarterback Donovan McNabb fell under the so-called Madden Curse after he appeared on the cover of the game in its 2006 edition. Just as several had before, McNabb suffered a season-ending injury during the year when he tore his ACL in a game against the Tennessee Titans.
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(#15) Shaun Alexander
- Running back
Coming in after he was named the NFL MVP, running back Shaun Alexander added Madden NFL cover athlete to his resume in 2007. Unfortunately, after receiving the honor, Alexander missed six games during the 2006 season after breaking his foot.
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(#16) Daunte Culpepper
- Quarterback
After making the Pro Bowl in 2000 for the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Daunte Culpepper was selected as the Madden NFL 2002 cover athlete. Culpepper experienced a series of injuries and misfortunes following the announcement. Culpepper tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL in his knee, was disciplined for disorderly conduct, and eventually washed out of the league.
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(#17) Eddie George
- Running back
After winning the Heisman Trophy in college, running back Eddie George joined the Tennessee Titans and reached the peak of his career prior to his Madden NFL 2011 cover appearance by taking the team to Super Bowl XXXIV. Unfortunately for George, the Titans fell in the Super Bowl to the St. Louis Rams.
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(#18) Vince Young
- Quarterback
Standout college football quarterback and two-time Rose Bowl MVP Vince Young was selected to front the 2008 edition of Madden NFL after a stellar rookie season. Young had favorable a season immediately after the selection; however, in 2008 he was troubled by injuries that kept him out of the game.
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(#19) Garrison Hearst
- Running back
Garrison Hearst became the first Madden NFL cover athlete when he appeared on the cover of the video game in 1999. The honor came after Hearst had a career season in 1998 playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
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(#20) Peyton Hillis
- Running back
Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis was selected by fans as the Madden NFL 2012 cover athlete. Hillis had a breakout 2010 campaign in which he put up 270 carries for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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(#21) Dorsey Levens
Appearing on one version of the cover of Madden NFL 2000, Green Bay Packers running back Dorsey Levens was believed to be the first mark of the so-called Madden Curse. After he was selected for the cover, Levens missed most of the 2000 season and was later released by the Packers.
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About This Tool
Madden NFL is a sports video game developed by EA Sports. The game allows players to experience the feeling of a leader in the football game, and appreciate every thrilling scene in the stadium. There are many NFL players who look handsome. These athletes have many fans all over the world. Game designers will also prefer to use these outstanding athletes as cover characters of the game.
These strong athletes tend to attract more players. Have you ever played Madden NFL? This page has a collection of the best Madden NFL cover athletes. They are all worldwide famous, with the help of this random tool, you could see more information about each athlete, such as their position.
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