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Bengals React With 5 Words to Surprising Ja'Marr Chase News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 11:56 AM ET

Ja'Marr Chase is heading into the new season with a massive new contract as the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, and he's fresh off a dominant 2024 campaign where he secured the rare Triple Crown—leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Chase posted an incredible stat line of 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Since being drafted out of LSU in 2021, he’s surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in every season and has steadily gained recognition as one of the league’s elite.

That status was further cemented on Monday when it was revealed that Chase is the newest member of the Madden 26 “99 Club”—a prestigious group reserved for players rated 99 overall in the game.

"Welcome to the 99 Club," Bengals posted.

Welcome to the 99 Club.@EAMaddenNFL | #Madden26 pic.twitter.com/QoTpSR7D6k
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 28, 2025

Chase now joins Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, Lane Johnson, and Myles Garrett as the only players rated 99 overall in the iconic video game.

The news was delivered to Chase by fellow Madden endorser and ratings adjuster Chad Ochocinco—legendary Bengals wide receiver and longtime friend of the organization, especially the receiving corps.

1-800-CALL-CHAD.@EAMaddenNFL x #MADDEN26 x @Real10jayy__ pic.twitter.com/vAo2Xe6FWK
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 28, 2025

“Yo Uno, what’s up, boy? Listen, remember when I said you weren’t a 99 and I’d bump you up after your first touchdown? Hey, listen—how about that? I had to play it cool, baby. I can’t let you get too comfortable out the gate," Ochocinco said. "But the people upstairs at Madden, I went up there and talked to them. They’ve been watching you. I’ve been watching you. We all know what you can do. So I’m here to tell you: you’re already there. You’ve arrived. The 99 Club—right now, my boy. Welcome to greatness.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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