Former Central Michigan wide receiver Antonio Brown is Madden 19 cover athlete
Former Central Michigan wide receiver Antonio Brown just accomplished another top NFL accolade.
The Pittsburgh Steelers receiver is the cover athlete for the video game "Madden 19," as announced by EA Sports on July 18.
"To be on the cover is a real honor I've wanted to always have because I have so much connection with the game," Brown told ESPN. "Growing up as a kid I played Madden all the time, was being inspired by the players in the game. And now to be on the cover, it's a special feeling."
The last four on the cover of the popular video game were Tom Brady (2018), Rob Gronkowski (2017), Odell Beckham Jr. (2016) and Richard Sherman (2015).
Earlier this year, Brown was inducted into the Madden 99 Club, which is only given to players who receive a 99 overall rating in the video game.
In his three-year career with CMU from 2007-2009, Brown caught 305 passes for 3,199 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also made 72 carries for 531 yards and four scores. On kickoffs and punt returns, he logged five touchdowns.
"The comradery and bonds built here (were special)," Brown said to CM-Life upon returning to Mount Pleasant for CMU's Spring Game on March 21. “(I enjoyed) being zoned out from everything with my teammates. I remember us being here so much in the summertime grinding when nobody was around. A lot of summers and long nights, so this is what it’s all about.”
Throughout his NFL career, Brown has caught 733 passes for 9,910 yards and 59 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 181 pounder scored five return touchdowns. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
"Nobody thought I’d be where I’m at," Brown said. "It’s all about doing things people wouldn’t expect you to do while coming from a place they wouldn’t expect you to come from."
Brown's career highlights and awards include:
- 6x Pro Bowl (2011, 2013-2017)
- 4x First-team All-Pro (2014-2017)
- Second-team All-Pro (2013)
- 2x NFL receiving yards leader (2014, 2017)
- 2x NFL receptions leader (2014, 2015)
- 2x First-team All-American (2008, 2009)
- 2x First-team All-MAC (2008, 2009)
- Second-team All-MAC (2007)
- MAC Freshman of the Year (2007)
