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Madden 18: Every NFL team’s best Madden player ever

By David Austin Bumpus

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez dunks the football over the crossbar after his NFL record-setting 63rd touchdown reception for tight ends in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, October 14, 2007, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 27-20. (Photo by David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez dunks the football over the crossbar after his NFL record-setting 63rd touchdown reception for tight ends in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, October 14, 2007, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 27-20. (Photo by David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images) /

Kansas City Chiefs: Tony Gonzalez

There are actually a ton of talented Kansas City Chiefs to work with here, with guys like Larry Johnson, Trent Green, Priest Holmes and plenty of others to choose from. However, one named that was great to use in the passing game, and one that helped make Green what he was, was Tony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez could be in the running for the greatest tight end in league history, although Rob Gronkowski could quickly take over the reins in the record books over the next few seasons, and he helped keep the Chiefs in playoff contention pretty consistently. If that title was based on Madden ratings alone, however, it’d be tough to take the top spot away from Gonzalez.

The Chiefs legend never dipped below 96 overall over eight straight years of Madden appearances with the team (it may even be more, but we couldn’t get data from the first four years of him appearing in the game). He hit 96 in 2008, and consistently stayed with his 97 or 98 overall otherwise. However, his best season in the game came when he joined the 99 overall club in Madden NFL 2002.

His hops and catching were both big reasons why he was successful in the NFL, and that same skill set was why he was one of the best in the Madden games, as well. He had 90 overall ratings in jumping and catching, and all the quarterback had to do was chuck a ball up to Gonzalez and he could use his size to dwarf defenders in the end zone.

Gonzalez had one of the most dominant stretches in Madden history over a whole decade, even including his time with the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s an easy pick for the Chiefs best Madden player ever.