Joe Thomas LB - Cowboys Madden Career 2016-2023 - Peak 71 OVR
Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2023 rating

Joe Thomas LB - Cowboys Madden Career 2016-2023 - Peak 71 OVR

Position
RLB
Team
Cowboys
Height
6'1"
Weight
233
College
South Carolina St.
DOB
May 6, 1991
Madden
2015-2022
70OVR
2022 Current
71OVR
Peak 2017
8
Seasons Played

A steady FCS backup who lasted the better part of a decade

This Joe Thomas is the linebacker, not the Hall of Fame tackle, an undrafted South Carolina State product who built a long career on rotational defense and special teams, landing in Dallas from 2018 through 2020.

Madden held him at a 70 to 71 across his Cowboys years, a reliable backup and dime linebacker always around when the defense needed a body. He kept going in Houston, Baltimore and Chicago, nearly 280 career tackles behind him, a long career made out of doing the little things well.

Joe Thomas Madden Career Milestones

  • Peak rating: 71 OVR in Madden NFL 2018 (age 26)
  • Appeared in 8 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2016 through Madden NFL 2023)
  • Entered at 65 OVR in Madden NFL 2016, climbed 6 points to his peak
  • Biggest single-year rise: 5 points into Madden NFL 2017
  • Played for 4 franchises: Packers, Cowboys, Texans, Bears
  • Listed as a linebacker in every Madden release
  • Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2023 at 70 OVR

Joe Thomas Madden Career Ratings

Madden Team Pos OVR Speed ACC AGI COD STR JMP STA INJ TGH AWR PRC THP TAS TAM TAD PAC TOR CAR TRK BCV SFA SPM JKM CTH SPC CIT SRR MRR DRR RLS RBK PBK IBL TAK POW PUR MCV ZCV PRS KPW KAC KRN
2016
2015 NFL season
 Packers LB 65 82 89 74 - 74 87 84 90 82 66 65 25 6 6 6 6 6 65 45 45 40 40 45 56 15 15 15 15 15 12 45 45 45 79 87 81 55 61 47 20 20 10
2017
2016 NFL season
 Packers LILB 70 82 89 74 - 74 87 84 90 82 72 72 25 6 6 6 6 6 65 45 45 40 40 45 56 15 15 15 15 15 12 45 45 45 77 85 81 65 73 47 20 20 10
2018
2017 NFL season
 Packers LB 71 83 90 74 - 74 87 84 90 82 77 77 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 45 56 15 15 15 15 15 12 45 45 76 80 87 79 61 69 47 20 20 10
2019
2018 NFL season
 Cowboys LB 70 83 90 74 - 74 89 84 90 82 72 72 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 45 56 15 15 15 - 5 12 45 45 76 80 87 79 63 71 47 20 20 10
2020
2019 NFL season
 Cowboys LB 68 83 90 74 - 74 89 84 90 82 77 72 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 46 56 15 15 15 - 5 12 45 45 76 80 86 79 60 67 47 20 20 10
2021
2020 NFL season
 Cowboys LB 71 82 89 73 67 74 91 84 90 82 77 74 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 46 56 15 15 15 - 5 12 45 45 76 79 85 79 60 67 47 20 20 10
2022
2021 NFL season
 Texans LB 70 81 89 72 67 74 90 84 90 82 77 75 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 46 56 15 15 15 5 5 12 45 45 76 80 85 80 58 65 47 20 20 10
2023
2022 NFL season
 Bears RLB 70 81 87 72 65 74 90 84 90 82 77 75 25 6 6 6 6 6 60 45 45 40 40 46 56 15 15 15 - 5 12 45 45 76 80 85 80 58 65 47 20 20 10
How to read these: Each row is the player’s rating in that year’s Madden, listed by the NFL season it covers (Madden NFL 2001 = the 2000 season). Madden sets its ratings before the season is played, so they reflect the previous season’s performance - a player’s breakout year tends to show up as a jump in the following year’s game.

Era Linebackers who played alongside Joe Thomas

Von Miller Madden ratings
Von Miller
Madden NFL 2012-2026 - Commanders
99
 Bobby Wagner Madden ratings
Bobby Wagner
Madden NFL 2013-2026 - Commanders
99
 Khalil Mack Madden ratings
Khalil Mack
Madden NFL 2019-2026 - Chargers
99
 Luke Kuechly Madden ratings
Luke Kuechly
Madden NFL 2013-2020 - Panthers
99
 DeMarcus Ware Madden ratings
DeMarcus Ware
Madden NFL 2006-2017 - Broncos
99
 James Harrison Madden ratings
James Harrison
Madden NFL 2006-2018 - Steelers
98
 T.J. Watt Madden ratings
T.J. Watt
Madden NFL 2018-2026 - Steelers
97
 Fred Warner Madden ratings
Fred Warner
Madden NFL 2019-2026 - 49ers
97
NFL career stats: View Joe Thomas's NFL stats & grades →

Joe Thomas Madden Ratings by Year

Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2016 rating: 65 OVR (2015 NFL season, GB). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2017 rating: 70 OVR (2016 NFL season, GB). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2018 rating: 71 OVR (2017 NFL season, GB). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2019 rating: 70 OVR (2018 NFL season, DAL). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2020 rating: 68 OVR (2019 NFL season, DAL). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2021 rating: 71 OVR (2020 NFL season, DAL). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2022 rating: 70 OVR (2021 NFL season, HOU). Joe Thomas Madden NFL 2023 rating: 70 OVR (2022 NFL season, CHI).