Matthew Stafford has spent nearly two decades proving that greatness doesn’t always arrive with perfect timing. 

On Monday, at 38 years old, Stafford accomplished something he’s never done before in his career and frankly, it’s never been close. 

EA Sports named the Los Angeles Rams quarterback as one of six members of their exclusive 2027 Madden NFL “99 Club,” marking the first time the reigning NFL MVP has ever received a perfect rating in his 18-year career. 

The honor is stunning not because Stafford doesn’t deserve it, but because it took this long in the latest example of what has been a remarkable late-career renaissance for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. 

For 17 seasons, Stafford’s Madden rating never climbed higher than a 91. In fact, it dipped as low as 75 just two years ago, reflecting the turbulence of injuries, roster rebuilds, and the uneven final years of his tenure with the Detroit Lions. 

But in 2025, Stafford had the best season of his career.

He led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. He captured his first MVP award and led the Rams to one fourth-down conversion away from going to another Super Bowl. His reward for that season was an eye-popping 11-point jump from his 88 overall rating at the start of the 2025 season. 

Stafford joins reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who earned his third career 99 rating after a record-breaking 23-sack season. That gives the Rams two members of the six-player Madden 99 Club. It also makes Los Angeles the home of the reigning league MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year — a pairing no NFL roster has ever featured entering a season.

The milestone adds Stafford to an exclusive Rams fraternity. Along with Garrett, they became just the third and fourth players in franchise history to earn a 99 overall rating, joining legends Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

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