The Madden franchise recently released its cover boy for the 2019 edition of the world's most realistic, intense and best football video game. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is now the second star from the franchise to grace the cover after Troy Polamalu did so back in 2000.

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It's hard to believe that the Madden franchise has been around since 1988. Let's have a gander at what the game looked like back then.

I wonder if the game's graphics and realism have improved at all since then. 

Indeed it would appear that the game has improved just slightly in the past three decades.

Madden has become so insanely popular that revealing the NFL star to appear on the cover practically announces the return of the upcoming season. To be honest, I get more excited about the cover announcement versus the annual Hall of Fame game in August that kicks off the preseason.

Until the year 2000, the former Oakland Raiders coach was the cover model for each edition. That changed in 2001 when Tennessee Titans star Eddie George took his place after running for 1,509 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns the previous season.

From Brown to George — and even the coach himself — here is every single cover of the Madden franchise.

Madden Covers Over the Years