Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase earns rare recognition that comes as no surprise from Madden NFL 27
EA Sports revealed Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chase as one of six players in the Madden NFL 27 “99 Club,” giving him the highest possible overall rating when the game launches on Aug. 13.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has officially entered rare air.
EA Sports revealed Chase as one of six players in the Madden NFL 27 “99 Club,” giving the Bengals’ star the highest possible overall rating when the game launches on Aug. 13.
Chase joins Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as the only players to earn the distinction.
The honor is obviously well-deserved in the eyes of Bengals fans. Chase made his fifth Pro Bowl and second first-team All-Pro selection last season, finishing third in the league with 125 receptions, fourth with 1,412 receiving yards, and adding eight touchdowns to boot. He accomplished all of that despite three different quarterbacks throwing him the football throughout the year with Joe Burrow missing nine games.
Ja’Marr Chase has more than production on his side
Chase proved himself to be an unstoppable force regardless of who was under center for Cincinnati, and Madden’s respect and recognition reflects that. Garrett, Allen, McBride, Smith-Njigba, and Stafford are all considered the best at their respective positions, and Chase has had that standing for the last few years as well.
Being rated 99 overall is not purely a production-based honor. It signifies how athletically gifted and dominant Chase is in the prime of his career. His combination of speed, strength, quickness, and acceleration all factor into his rating reaching the ceiling.
Chase is a cheat code in real life. It makes perfect sense for him to be one in the NFL’s official video game.
Can Chase hold the 99 all season?
Madden ratings are subject to change throughout the season, but it would take something drastic for Chase to drop significantly below 99 during the 2026 campaign.
I think if this year goes as well for Chase as the previous five have, he won’t see a new number next to his name at any point throughout the year.
The Bengals have built their offense around Chase since drafting him fifth overall in 2021, and he has proved worthy of that every single season. A 99 Madden rating is a fun piece of recognition, but it only confirms what anyone watching Cincinnati already knows.
Chase is one of the best football players on the planet.