Quarterback (QB) Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills has been chosen as the cover player of the video game Madden NFL 2024 presented by Electronic Arts (EA) Sports, Allen announced on Twitter on Wednesday.

As the first Bill to be on the cover of the Madden NFL series, Allen described it as "a childhood dream come true." "It's such a small group of people who have ever touched the face of Madden, so now to be on that list, it's very surreal. It's very humbling," he told ESPN. "To think about where I was not too long ago and coming out of high school with zero offers, going to junior college and have one offer, University of Wyoming of all places, and then fast-forward to now."

Having played 77 games in five seasons in the NFL, Allen has completed 1,604 of his 2,566 passes for 18,397 yards and 138 touchdowns. He is also a threat on the ground, having rushed for 3,087 yards and completed 38 touchdowns with 546 carries. As a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro member, Allen kept the Bills in the playoffs since he became the starting QB in the 2019 season.

EA Sports had game namesake John Madden on the cover of Madden 2023, seven-time Super Bowl champion QB Tom Brady on Madden 2022, QB Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, QB Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens on Madden 2021, Mahomes on Madden 2020, wide receiver Antonio Brown on Madden 2019 and Brady on Madden 2018.

Allen was rated 92 overall in Madden 2023 when the season began, the fourth among all QBs. He reached 96 at most and ended at 95 when the campaign was over.

"I'm hoping it's above 92. I would assume it's going to be, but you never know," he told ESPN. "I'm an honest man. I'm a realistic man. I'm a logical man, and I think it's going to be a little bit above 92 but until I get to that 99 club, I'll be working hard."