Michael Vick Announced As Madden 24 Season 3 Cover Athlete

The former Falcons quarterback is one of sports video games' most enduring legends.

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 25 (@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.