Madden NFL 2000 - John Madden

John Madden starred on the series' cover throughout the 1990s, but Madden NFL 2000 marked his final appearance on the box art during his lifetime. The game brought significant improvements to Franchise Mode.

Madden NFL 2001 - Eddie George

Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans stepped into John Madden's shoes, marking the series' jump onto PS2. This was also the first game to include teams from Europe.

Madden NFL 2002 - Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings earned his spot on the cover with stellar performances, and the game debuted on Xbox and GameCube.

Madden NFL 2003 - Marshall Faulk

Marshall Faulk, part of the Greatest Show on Turf, graced the cover, and Al Michaels joined John Madden as the play-by-play commentator.

Madden NFL 2004 - Michael Vick

Michael Vick was practically a cheat code in Madden NFL 2004, with his Speed of 95 making him nearly unstoppable.

Madden NFL 2005 - Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis featured on the cover as the game introduced major defensive gameplay overhauls, including the Hit Stick.

Madden NFL 06 - Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb presided over the debut of Superstar Mode and a graphical revolution, as the game became available on Xbox 360.

Madden NFL 07 - Shaun Alexander

Shaun Alexander was the first cover star for the brand-new PS3 and Nintendo Wii versions, introducing control staples like the Lead Blocker Control.

Madden NFL 08 - Vince Young

Vince Young earned his spot with a standout season, and the game saw substantial improvements to the animation system.

Madden NFL 09 - Brett Favre

Brett Favre was the first inactive player to appear on the cover, having retired before the game's announcement.

Madden NFL 10 - Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald

Following their Super Bowl efforts, Polamalu and Fitzgerald shared the cover, and Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) made its first appearance.

Madden NFL 11 - Drew Brees

Drew Brees landed on the cover after a Super Bowl victory, and the game introduced the GameFlow system to improve match pace.

Madden NFL 12 - Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis won a fan vote to be on the cover, marking a unique choice for the series.

Madden NFL 13 - Calvin Johnson Jr.

Calvin Johnson Jr. won another fan vote and presided over the debut of the customizable Connected Careers mode.

Madden NFL 25 (2014) - Adrian Peterson/Barry Sanders

Celebrating the series' 25th anniversary, Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders graced the covers for Xbox One/PS4 and Xbox 360/PS3, respectively.

Madden NFL 15 - Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman was the ambassador for a defensively oriented entry, focusing on pass-rushing and tackling improvements.

Madden NFL 16 - Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. won a fan vote and the game introduced Draft Champions, a gateway to MUT.

Madden NFL 17 - Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski finally got his time to shine, despite losing the previous year's fan vote.

Madden NFL 18 - Tom Brady

Tom Brady's appearance coincided with a switch to the Frostbite Engine, enhancing visual fidelity.

Madden NFL 19 - Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown graced a more creatively designed cover, and the game marked the series' return to PC.

Madden NFL 20 - Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes was the perfect ambassador for the game's new X-Factors, making star players more like their real-life counterparts.

Madden NFL 21 - Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson featured on the cover, and the game introduced The Yard, a street-style game mode.

Madden NFL 22 - Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes

Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes joined forces on the cover, but the game fell short of past glories.

Madden NFL 23 - John Madden

John Madden returned to the cover posthumously, a tribute to the man whose legend lives on.

Madden NFL 24 - Josh Allen

Josh Allen made Buffalo Bills history by gracing the cover, and the game introduced mechanical changes for more accurate athlete representation.

Madden NFL 25 - Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey was announced as the cover star shortly after extending his contract with the 49ers.

Madden NFL 26 - Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley's first season with the Philadelphia Eagles was stellar, leading to his cover spot for Madden NFL 26.