Michael RothsteinESPN Staff Writer Jun 7, 2023 11:07 am ET4 minutes read
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Josh Allen reflected on his past not so long ago when the Buffalo Bills quarterback could never have imagined that what happened Wednesday would become a reality when he was named the cover athlete for the Madden NFL 24 video game became.
Back in high school in Firebaugh, California, or even college at the University of Wyoming—no, that wasn’t plausible. Not to mention he became the first Bills player to be chosen as a main cover star.
“It’s such a small group of people who have ever touched Madden’s face. Being on this list now is very surreal. It’s very humbling,” Allen told ESPN. “I think about where I was not too long ago, coming out of high school with zero offers, went to junior college and only had one offer, at the University of Wyoming of all places, and then fast-forward to the present .”
“I don’t know if I would have believed you at that point if you had told me in high school. It’s so surreal. Madden has such a special place in my heart.”
Allen grew up a Madden player — often playing for his childhood favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers, sometimes substituting in for Jeff Garcia and Tim Rattay for his current offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey. By playing Madden, he learned the fundamentals of the game. Now a game that graces its face will be one that will teach the next generation of soccer players.
Unlike last season, when John Madden was featured on the cover of all issues of the game in homage to the death of the game’s namesake and Hall-of-Fame football coach, quarterbacks have dominated the cover in recent years.
Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes were on the cover of Madden 22, Lamar Jackson on Madden 21, Mahomes on Madden 20, and Brady on Madden 18. The only non-quarterbacks in recent years have been Antonio Brown in Madden 19 and retired receiver Terrell Owens the cover of the Madden 19 Hall of Fame issue.
Allen started last season in Madden with a 92nd overall and peaked at 96 before finishing the season in 93rd. That was good progress in the ratings of his first three seasons when he started in the ’70s, but he’s hoping for success. The initial rating is higher this year. Allen said he would like his strength and break tackling ratings to increase in addition to his overall rating, knowing that any attribute that receives an improvement could improve his overall rating.
“I hope it’s above 92. I would assume it will be, but you never know,” Allen said. “I am an honest man. I’m a realistic man. I’m a logical man and I think it’s going to be a little over 92, but until I get to that club of 99 I’m going to work hard.”
Allen started last season as the No. 4 quarterback in Madden. Last season’s top starting quarterback Brady has retired. Last season, no quarterback started at the 99 Club — a 99 rating is the highest a player can have in the game — after Mahomes was there in Madden 22.
The 27-year-old Allen completed 63.3% of his passes for 4,283 yards, 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season. He also had 124 carries for 762 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bills. A two-time Pro Bowler, Allen has led the Bills to the playoffs and three straight division titles in the past four seasons.
Now he’s the first Bills player to say he’s also featured on Madden’s main cover.
“It’s surreal to me,” Allen said. “But I think Western New York and Bill’s Mafia will be very excited about the cover. That perhaps confirms some of the respect they haven’t had in a long time. I think they will be very excited about the camouflage.” .
“It’s going to be a very special Madden, I can tell.”