Es mag einige NFL-Fans überraschen, dass nur etwas mehr als die Hälfte der 32 NFL-Teams einen ihrer Spieler auf dem Cover von Madden, dem offiziell lizenzierten Videospiel der NFL von EA Sports, gesehen haben. Während die Veröffentlichung des Covers von Madden NFL 23 am 19. August den verstorbenen, großen Namensvetter der Serie, John Madden, den legendären Kommentator und Cheftrainer der Oakland Raiders, zeigt, wurde zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt 15 NFL-Franchise-Unternehmen noch nie mit einem ihrer Spieler vorgestellt auf dem Cover des Spiels, darunter zehn Mannschaften der AFC (American Football Conference) und fünf Mannschaften der NFC (National Football Conference).
Diese Liste enthält alle NFL-Teams, die noch nie einen Madden-Cover-Athleten hatten, und stellt einen oder mehrere Spieler vor, die diese Ehre verdient haben, sortiert nach Conference und Division. Hinweis: da Madden-Cover erst mit Madden NFL 2001 prominente Cover-Athleten zeigten, konzentriert sich die Liste auf Spieler, die in dieser Zeit realistischerweise auf dem Cover hätten erscheinen können (also nicht böse sein, wenn Johnny Unitas nicht auf der Liste steht ).
AFC Nord
Cincinnati Bengals
Die verteidigenden AFC-Champions von 2021, die den Sieg im Super Bowl LVI gegen die Los Angeles Rams knapp verfehlt haben, hatten noch nie einen Madden-Cover-Athleten, was sie zum einzigen AFC North-Team ohne einen macht, da sie die Steelers, Ravens und sogar gesehen haben Ihr Rivale Cleveland Browns aus der Ohio Division war auf Madden-Covern zu sehen, während verdiente Bengals übergangen wurden. Mit Cincinnatis neuem hochkarätigem Angriff und geiziger Verteidigung, die eine knappe Super Bowl-Niederlage hinter sich haben, scheint es wahrscheinlich, dass Quarterback Joe Burrow oder Wide Receiver Jamarr Chase eines Tages die „Who Dey“-Nation auf dem Cover von Madden repräsentieren werden.
Der verdienteste Spieler der Vergangenheit wäre jedoch wahrscheinlich der allzeit führende Empfänger der Franchise, Chad Johnson (ehemals Chad Ochocinco). Zwischen 2001 und 2010 wurde Johnson aufgrund seiner extravaganten Persönlichkeit, seiner Possen (wie der Änderung seines Namens in Chad Ochocinco) und seiner komplizierten Touchdown-Feierlichkeiten zu einem bekannten Namen in der NFL, während er auf dem Spielfeld mit der Melodie von sechs Pro Bowl untermauerte Auswahlen, vier All-Pro-Teamnicken und durch den Besitz der Trifecta der meisten Empfänge (751), Empfangen von Yards (10.783) und Erhalten von Touchdowns (66) in der Geschichte von Cincinnati Bengals. Obwohl er nach seiner Zeit in Cincinnati mit einigen rechtlichen Problemen abseits des Spielfelds konfrontiert war, ist es eine Überraschung, dass Johnson während seiner Blütezeit nie auf dem Madden-Cover erschien.
AFC Ost
Buffalo Bills
Obwohl es nur eine Frage der Zeit zu sein scheint, bis der Elite-Quarterback Josh Allen der Madden-Cover-Athlet sein wird, hat bisher noch kein Bill das Cover geziert. The reason is that, while the ’90s (pre-Madden Cover) Bills generated a number of Hall of Famers during the franchise’s four consecutive Super Bowl losses, following the 1999 season, the Bills failed to reach the NFL playoffs until 2017, and have only become Super Bowl contenders again in recent seasons.
While the fifth-year quarterback Allen and eighth-year wide receiver Stefon Diggs are the most viable cover candidates among current Bills’ players, one face from the past that deserves recognition is former Bills’ defensive tackle Kyle Williams. Over the course of his 13-season NFL career, Williams earned six Pro Bowl selections and was a perennial leader on Buffalo’s underrated defenses. However, no defensive lineman has ever been featured on the cover of the NFL’s premier videogame franchise.
Miami Dolphins
Since Dolphins legendary quarterback Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season and Miami has not had a playoff win since the 2000 season, it kind of makes sense why there has been a lack of Dolphins on Madden covers. However, versatile defender Jason Taylor deserved to be on the cover as much as any cover athlete, as, over the course of his 15-year career, the Hall of Fame linebacker/defensive lineman recorded the seventh most sacks in NFL history (139.5), won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2006, and earned six Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections. However, to this day, Ray Lewis remains the only linebacker who has ever appeared on a Madden cover.
New York Jets
While the Jets kind of had a Madden cover athlete, as quarterback Brett Favre in his Jets uniform was featured on the rare, valuable variant cover of Madden 09 (while standard versions had Favre as a Green Bay Packer), this really doesn’t count, leaving one of the biggest media markets in the world without a Madden cover athlete. If Madden games had existed in 1969, then Joe Namath undeniably would have made a showing, however, since Madden games didn’t start featuring players on its covers until Broadway Joe had been out of the league for 23 years, the better option would be cornerback Darrelle Revis .
“Revis Island” was the NFL’s premier shutdown corner near the end of the 2000s, earning seven Pro Bowl appearances and four First-team All-Pro selections over the course of his 11-year career, many occurring in his eight seasons with the Jets. However, only one cornerback has ever appeared on the cover of Madden, Revis’ nemesis Richard Sherman in Madden NFL 15.
AFC South
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a younger franchise than Madden is, as the expansion team’s first season was in 2002, making it less of a surprise why they haven’t had any cover athletes yet. However, wide receiver Andre Johnson was among the best receivers in the NFL during his 14-year career, 12 seasons of which he played on the Houston Texans from 2003-2014, earning every major franchise receiving record with the most receptions (1,012), receiving yards (13,597), and touchdowns (64).
Indianapolis Colts
With so many Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers playing in Indy throughout the 2000s, it’s a wonder how no Indianapolis Colts were ever selected to be Madden cover athletes. While greats like Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and Bob Sanders all could make strong cases, there’s no bigger snub than Peyton Manning , one of the NFL’s greatest statistical quarterbacks, who earned four league MVP Awards (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009) with the Indianapolis Colts and was the Super Bowl XLI champion and MVP.
Jacksonville Jaguars
A slightly older expansion franchise than their Houston division rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars did not come into existence until the 1995 NFL Season. To this day the franchise lacks a Super Bowl ring and a Madden cover. The two most deserving “cover athletes who never were” that stand out are the two leading rushers in franchise history Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew . While both running backs could make a strong case, I would give Jones-Drew the slight edge, as despite trailing Taylor in career rushing yards, “MJD” outpaced the elder running back in receiving yards, total touchdowns, Pro Bowl selections, and All-Pro appearances. Jones-Drew’s versatility as a kick returner also makes him more Madden Cover material, but both running backs were undeniably special players in the annals of Jaguar history.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
It is baffling how a franchise with eight Super Bowl appearances, tied for the second most of all-time (only behind the New England Patriots) was never given a Madden cover. While legendary quarterback John Elway surely would have been featured, had he not retired prior to Madden ever introducing cover athletes, the two players who stand out as equally deserving are cornerback Champ Bailey and outside linebacker Von Miller . During his tenure in Washington and Denver, Bailey was the league’s preeminent shutdown cornerback, earning 12 Pro Bowl selections and seven All-Pro nods during his Hall of fame career. On the other hand, Miller led the Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers, earning the coveted Super Bowl MVP award, to go along with his eight Pro Bowl appearances and seven All-Pro honors.
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders
The Silver and Black have never had a player featured on the Madden Cover, as while “The Autumn Wind is a Raider,” Madden usually releases in August. However, it’s doubtful Las Vegas Raiders fans will lose any sleep over this, as their legendary head coach, John Madden, is featured in the game’s very name, and has appeared on the cover more than anyone else. Still, while the Raiders have struggled in the 21st Century, failing to win a playoff game since 2002, the franchise has seen many deserving players overlooked for covers, and its most egregious Madden cover snub would be Jerry Rice . While the legendary wide receiver was a much older player by the time he left the San Francisco 49ers for their formerly bay area counterpart Oakland Raiders, his three and a quarter seasons with the franchise were extremely fruitful, as he recorded 3,286 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl appearance to boot. Prior to being usurped by Tom Brady, for many years after his career finished Rice was considered to be the GOAT (greatest of all-time) during his impressive 20-year NFL career.
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
While the current Los Angeles Chargers have a number of exciting offensive and defensive stars who could appear on future Madden covers, the former San Diego franchise saw its biggest stars consistently passed over for Madden covers. The most notable of these players would be running back LaDainian Tomlinson , a Hall of Famer, who won League MVP in 2006, setting an NFL single-season record with 31 total touchdowns, and ranks 7th all-time in career rushing yards (13,684).
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NFC North
Chicago Bears
Despite being one of the oldest, most storied franchises in NFL history, a Chicago Bear has never been included on the cover of Madden. If a Bear had been chosen, it should be no surprise that Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher would have been an ideal fit. Urlacher appeared in eight Pro Bowls, was selected to five All-Pro teams, and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2005, making him clearly the most deserving of the Madden Cover-era Bears. However, Urlacher was featured on the cover of the, unfortunately, now defunct NFL 2K series, NFL 2K3.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
“America’s Team? No thanks, let’s put another Detroit Lion on the cover,” says EA Sports, as one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises, the Dallas Cowboys have never had a Madden cover athlete. While present-day Cowboys units have not lived up to the legendary teams of the ’70s and ’90s, a number of Madden Cover-Era Cowboys deserve consideration, with the most notable being edge rusher DeMarcus Ware. Ware is the all-time sack leader in Cowboys’ history, twice leading the NFL in sacks (2008, 2010), earning 7 Pro Bowls and 7 All-Pro Honors along the way, before finishing his career with the Denver Broncos and retiring with the ninth most sacks in NFL history (138.5).
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders, who changed their name for the 2022 NFL Season from the Washington Football Team moniker the team used for the two prior seasons, are another example of a franchise that was skipped for a Madden cover. They also had a potential cover athlete that was one of Madden’s most unfortunate missed opportunities. In just his fourth NFL season, Washington’s hard-hitting, elite safety, Sean Taylor , was tragically murdered at the age of 24 during a botched robbery attempt at his home, as the rising star passed away on November 27, 2007. His four-year career consisted of two Pro Bowl selections and a posthumous All-Pro honor and should have also included a Madden cover the following season.
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NFC South
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, are one of the NFL’s newer teams, entering the league in 1995, and are also the most successful of the expansion teams, appearing in two Super Bowls since their inception. However, no Panther has appeared on the cover of Madden, with the two most notable players passed over being quarterback Cam Newton and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. Newton was the 2015 NFL MVP, whose electrifying dual-threat ability as a passer and runner with “Superman” touchdown celebrations, made him one of the NFL’s most popular characters, while Smith Sr., cemented himself among the best wide receivers of all-time by recording the eighth-most receiving yards in NFL history (14,731), and winning the “triple crown” in 2005 by leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Both of these players undeniably have/had the qualities of prototypical Madden Cover athletes.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers
Lastly, another example of a legendary franchise without a Madden cover to show for it is the five-time Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers. While the 49ers have gone through ups and downs during the Madden Cover-Era, which began after the retirement of the franchise’s two most legendary QBs, Joe Montana and Steve Young, there have been a number of worthy Madden cover players. However, the one who deserved consideration the most was middle linebacker Patrick Willis. While Willis only played eight seasons, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro nods and developed into one of the most feared defenders in the NFL from 2007-2014 before his surprise retirement prior to the 2015 season.