On Aug. 11, 2003, Madden NFL 2004 was released—and with it the most frequently mythologized character in the modern history of sports video games.
Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was given a speed rating of 95 in the game following a season where he rushed for a league-leading 6.9 yards per carry. The result was a nearly unstoppable version of Vick whose legend quickly outpaced the quarterback’s considerable on-field talents.
Fast forward 20 years, and Madden is paying tribute to a player with whom the game is forever linked.
Vick was unveiled Wednesday afternoon as the cover athlete for Season 3 of Madden NFL 2024, which was released on all platforms Wednesday.
Michael Vick is Running It Back as the #Madden24 Cover Athlete with Season 3 👑 🤩
Click below to learn more! 🔽https://t.co/9jrBs30FWK#DirtyBirds | @MichaelVick pic.twitter.com/tGvtY55x17
— Madden NFL 24 (@EAMaddenNFL) November 15, 2023
The cover depicts the same photo of Vick with Atlanta that was used in Madden 2004. Meeting certain parameters in the game can unlock a special version of Vick, “’04 Vick,” that resembles his classic iteration.
Since his glory days, Vick’s story has taken several twists and turns. He spent more than a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to involvement in a dog fighting ring, missing two seasons in his prime. He later played with the Eagles, Jets and Steelers, reaching the Pro Bowl with Philadelphia in 2010.
