The anticipation for EA Sports’ Madden NFL 26 reached a fever pitch as fans eagerly awaited the reveal of their favorite players’ ratings. For Philadelphia Eagles supporters, the excitement was palpable, with quarterback Jalen Hurts fresh off a stellar 2024 season that culminated in a Super Bowl victory and MVP honors. Yet, when the game’s official Instagram account unveiled the top 10 quarterbacks, the Eagles faithful were left stunned and furious. Jalen Hurts, the architect of Philadelphia’s championship run, was rated a mere 86 overall—eighth on the list and shockingly absent from the elite 90+ club.
Madden 26’s Top 10 Quarterbacks: A Controversial Lineup
The list of Madden 26’s top quarterbacks sparked heated debates across social media, with Hurts’ rating drawing particular ire. Here’s the full rundown:
Josh Allen (99 OVR)
Lamar Jackson (99 OVR)
Joe Burrow (97 OVR)
Patrick Mahomes (95 OVR)
Matthew Stafford (88 OVR)
Jared Goff (87 OVR)
Justin Herbert (86 OVR)
Jalen Hurts (86 OVR)
Baker Mayfield (85 OVR)
Jayden Daniels (85 OVR)
For a quarterback who led his team to the pinnacle of NFL glory, Hurts’ 86 rating felt like a slap in the face to Eagles fans. The fact that he was ranked below veterans like Stafford and Goff, and tied with Herbert, only fueled the outrage.
Social media erupted with passionate defenses of Hurts, as fans called out EA Sports for what they perceived as blatant disrespect. The comments were fiery and unrelenting:
“JD and Hurts should be 90 plus at least, wtf is this EA?!” one fan raged.
“Super Bowl MVP not breaking 90 is crazy work,” another fumed.
“Hurts should be at least a 93, the disrespect is unreal,” a third chimed in.
“How TF is Jalen Hurts not at least a 90?! This is way beyond disrespect at this point!” a fourth exclaimed.
“The SB champion Jalen Hurts is disrespected, showed up in 2 SB games, make it right 95***,” a fifth demanded.
The consensus was clear: fans believed Hurts’ Super Bowl heroics warranted a rating that reflected his elite status. The fact that he was rated the same as in Madden 25—despite his championship pedigree—only added fuel to the fire.
Jalen Hurts’ 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. Leading the Eagles to their first Super Bowl since 2018, he silenced critics with clutch performances and a commanding presence on the field. His Super Bowl MVP award was a testament to his growth as a leader and playmaker. Yet, despite these accolades, doubters persist. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton recently dismissed Hurts’ case as a top-10 quarterback, and now Madden 26’s rating seems to echo that skepticism.
Interestingly, Hurts’ 86 overall rating is unchanged from Madden 25, where he was also ranked eighth among quarterbacks. Back then, he trailed Mahomes (99 OVR), Jackson (98 OVR), Burrow (93 OVR), Allen (92 OVR), Dak Prescott (90 OVR), Tua Tagovailoa (88 OVR), and Herbert (87 OVR). By the end of the 2024 season, his rating had inched up to 87, but Madden 26’s decision to revert to 86 feels like a step backward for a player who has proven his worth on the biggest stage.
Hurts’ place among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks remains a polarizing topic. While fans and some analysts view him as a top-tier talent, others argue he benefits from Philadelphia’s stacked roster. ESPN’s recent poll of executives, coaches, and scouts ranked Hurts as the ninth-best quarterback, a step up from years of being an honorable mention. Still, the Madden 26 rating suggests that EA Sports isn’t fully sold on his individual brilliance.
For Eagles fans, the rating is more than just a number—it’s a symbol of the ongoing narrative that Hurts must continually prove himself. Even after hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the quarterback faces scrutiny that few other Super Bowl champions endure.
As Jalen Hurts prepares for the 2025 NFL season, he does so with a chip on his shoulder. The Madden 26 controversy is just the latest chapter in a career defined by overcoming doubt. Whether it’s leading the Eagles to another deep playoff run or silencing his critics with jaw-dropping plays, Hurts has the opportunity to rewrite the narrative.
For now, Eagles fans will continue to rally behind their quarterback, using the Madden snub as motivation to cheer even louder. As one fan aptly put it, “Hurts doesn’t need a video game to tell him he’s elite—he’s already shown it.”