Without a doubt, plenty of National Football League fans are eager to be able to get their hands on a copy of Madden NFL 19 when the forthcoming title officially releases on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, with the next entry also seeing the franchise's return to the PC platform for the first time since 2008. While sports fans wait with bated breath for the latest installment in the series, EA Sports has decided to finally unveil the title's cover star as the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Brown's appearance on the front of Madden NFL 19 will mark the second instance of a Steeler being the video game's star player ever since the virtual football franchise began its tradition of cover stars roughly 19 years ago. The professional Pittsburgh team's former defensive back Troy Polamalu shared the cover of Madden NFL 10 with the Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
For those unaware, Brown had previously been revealed by EA Sports to be a 99-rated player in Madden NFL 19, which many saw as a sign that the sports video game publisher and developer was planning to have him as the cover star all along. As it so happens, there have only been five of the past six cover stars in the franchise's history to have been 99-rated in the game at launch, with the last installment's cover star Tom Brady being among them.
Taking all of this into account, it will be difficult for Steelers detractors to dispute EA Sports choosing Brown as Madden NFL 19's cover athlete, especially with the wide receiver being a six-time Pro Bowl selection and having led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards twice. Brown is also the first player to record more than 100 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards, and 5 receiving touchdowns in 5 consecutive seasons, with the NFL Network having named him the second best player in the league for 2018, behind Tom Brady. Clearly, Brown is a fantastic pick to be Madden NFL 19's cover star.
Madden NFL 19 is set to launch on August 10, 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
