Matthew Stafford Achieves Historic Madden Milestone

Matthew Stafford has spent nearly two decades demonstrating that exceptional achievements don’t always coincide with perfect timing.

On Monday, the 38-year-old quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams accomplished something unprecedented in his long career—it’s hard to imagine anything topping this.

EA Sports has recognized Stafford as one of only six players to achieve a perfect rating. This is the first time, in his 18 years in the league, that the reigning NFL MVP attained such a high distinction.

This honor is noteworthy, not because Stafford isn’t deserving, but rather due to the length of time it took for a future Hall of Fame quarterback to reach this point, especially following a remarkable resurgence late in his career.

In his first 17 seasons, Stafford’s Madden rating peaked at 91. In fact, just two years ago, it dropped as low as 75, reflecting challenges like injuries and changes within the roster during an inconsistent final season with the Detroit Lions.

Fast forward to 2025, and Stafford had the best season of his life.

He led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and threw 46 touchdowns. He secured his first MVP award, and led the Rams to a crucial fourth-down conversion, just shy of advancing to the next Super Bowl. This season saw his rating make an impressive leap to 99, up from 88 at the start of the year.

Now, Stafford joins Myles Garrett, the current Defensive Player of the Year, who has also received a 99 rating for the third time, following an incredible season where he recorded 23 sacks. Together, they are part of a select group within the Rams, marking a unique feat for an NFL roster that boasts both an MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year entering the season.

With this achievement, Stafford solidifies his place among the Rams’ elite, becoming just the third and fourth players in franchise history—alongside legends Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey—to earn a 99 overall rating.