Keanu Neal Madden Career 2017-2024 - Peak 89 OVR
The Falcons' first-round hitter whose knee and Achilles betrayed him
Atlanta took Keanu Neal 17th overall in 2016 out of Florida and got exactly the enforcer it wanted at safety. As a rookie he started on a team that reached Super Bowl LI, where he racked up 13 tackles in the overtime loss to New England. The next year he made the Pro Bowl. Then the body gave out: a torn ACL in the 2018 opener, then a torn Achilles in Week 3 of 2019, two lost seasons back to back.
The Madden line captures the rise and the ceiling. He came in at 77 in the 2016 edition, hit 83 in 2017, and reached a career-best 89 in the 2018 edition just before the knee went. Neal reinvented himself as a hybrid linebacker in Dallas in 2021 and passed through Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh before retiring in 2025. Named after Keanu Reeves, he kept a signed Kam Chancellor jersey in his locker and played with the same violence.
Keanu Neal Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 89 OVR in Madden NFL 2019 (age 23)
- Appeared in 7 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2017 through Madden NFL 2024)
- Entered at 77 OVR in Madden NFL 2017, climbed 12 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 6 points into Madden NFL 2018
- Played for 3 franchises: Falcons, Buccaneers, Steelers
- Listed as a defensive back in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2024 at 75 OVR
Keanu Neal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 2016 NFL season
|
|
FS | 77 | 87 | 88 | 88 | - | 75 | 89 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 67 | 67 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 56 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 45 | 43 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 30 | 22 | 30 | 71 | 93 | 81 | 66 | 75 | 71 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2018 2017 NFL season
|
|
FS | 83 | 87 | 88 | 88 | - | 76 | 89 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 79 | 79 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 56 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 45 | 43 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 30 | 22 | 70 | 75 | 94 | 78 | 77 | 86 | 71 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2019 2018 NFL season
|
|
DB | 89 | 87 | 88 | 88 | - | 76 | 89 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 85 | 85 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 56 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 45 | 43 | 44 | - | 29 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 70 | 77 | 94 | 92 | 79 | 85 | 81 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2020 2019 NFL season
|
|
DB | 88 | 87 | 88 | 87 | - | 76 | 89 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 84 | 89 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 56 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 60 | 43 | 44 | - | 29 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 70 | 76 | 96 | 91 | 78 | 86 | 81 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2021 2020 NFL season
|
|
FS | 84 | 87 | 89 | 87 | 82 | 76 | 89 | 91 | 87 | 93 | 80 | 82 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 56 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 60 | 43 | 44 | - | 29 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 70 | 76 | 95 | 91 | 74 | 81 | 81 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2023 2022 NFL season
|
|
DB | 77 | 86 | 88 | 86 | 81 | 76 | 89 | 88 | 86 | 93 | 73 | 75 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 54 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 62 | 49 | 44 | - | 29 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 72 | 72 | 92 | 84 | 70 | 75 | 79 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
|
2024 2023 NFL season
|
|
SS | 75 | 85 | 87 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 89 | 87 | 86 | 93 | 76 | 77 | 34 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 48 | 59 | 54 | 63 | 66 | 72 | 62 | 49 | 44 | - | 29 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 72 | 69 | 92 | 83 | 65 | 71 | 78 | 21 | 18 | 76 |
Era Defensive Backs who played alongside Keanu Neal
Keanu Neal Madden Ratings by Year
Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2017 rating: 77 OVR (2016 NFL season, ATL). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2018 rating: 83 OVR (2017 NFL season, ATL). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2019 rating: 89 OVR (2018 NFL season, ATL). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2020 rating: 88 OVR (2019 NFL season, ATL). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2021 rating: 84 OVR (2020 NFL season, ATL). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2023 rating: 77 OVR (2022 NFL season, TB). Keanu Neal Madden NFL 2024 rating: 75 OVR (2023 NFL season, PIT).