Madden NFL Covers — A Complete Visual History: 1988 to Madden 24 (2024)

When we talk about famous video game franchises, characterslike 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.

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 arrivedin 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.

Order Madden NFL games from Microsoft.

Overthe years, Madden NFL covers have changed as well. Until2000, 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.'sinstant-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 alsothe 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 21selected 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 23features 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

SimilartoMadden 17and Madden 18, there is a figure collectible associated with Madden NFL 19. McFarlane Madden NFL19 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

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1988 - John Madden Football

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Main Systems: PC

1990 - John Madden Football

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Main Systems: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo

1991 - John Madden Football II

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Main Systems: PC

1991 - John Madden Football '92

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Main Systems: Sega Genesis

1992 - John Madden Football '93

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1993 - Madden NFL '94

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Main Systems: Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo

1994 - Madden NFL 95

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Main Systems: Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo

1995 - Madden NFL 96

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Main Systems: Game Boy, Game Gear, PC, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo

1996 - Madden NFL 97

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Main Systems: Game Boy, PC, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo

1997 - Madden NFL 98, Madden NFL 64

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Main Systems: Game Boy, PC, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 (NFL 64 only)

1998 - Madden NFL 99

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Main Systems: Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation

1999 - Madden NFL 2000

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Main Systems: Game Boy Color, Mac, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation
On the Cover: Barry Sanders (Background)

2000 - Madden NFL 2001 - Eddie George

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Main Systems: Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2
On the Cover: Eddie George

2001 - Madden NFL 2002 - Daunte Culpepper

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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

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Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Marshall Faulk

2003 - Madden NFL 2004 - Michael Vick

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Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Michael Vick

2004 - Madden NFL 2005 - Ray Lewis

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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

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Main Systems: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Cube, PC, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
On the Cover: Donovan McNabb

2006 - Madden NFL 07 - Shaun Alexander

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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