Electronic Arts is paying tribute to the late John Madden by featuring him as the cover star for Madden NFL 23.
The long-running sports franchise’s namesake passed away due to undisclosed circumstances last December. Fittingly enough, EA is releasing three separate covers for NFL 23 in honor of Madden. Each cover will honor the many legendary hats that Pro Football Hall of Famer wore throughout his career: one as a coach, one as a broadcaster, and one that will feature artwork created by Philadelphia-based artist, Chuck Styles.
NFL Madden 23 is the first installment in the series that will come out following Madden’s death.
The #Madden23 cover… Coach‼️
Full reveal June 2nd: https://t.co/M3Il0XW40c pic.twitter.com/DTI9FqA5bL
— Madden NFL 24 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 1, 2022
Madden is often described as an individual that’s synonymous with football and it’s not an exaggeration.
As a coach, Madden guided the Oakland Riders to the Super Bowl in 1976. Madden retired with the still-standing record of the second-highest winning percentage of any NFL coach, just behind the namesake for the NFL Super Bowl trophy, Vince Lombardi. Madden then took his talents to the broadcasting booth as he became an NFL analyst and excelled even more.
Madden’s fear of flying and his career as an award-winning NFL analyst resulted in what has been lovingly referred to as “The Madden Cruiser”, a decked-out RV that the analyst drove to his destinations for his travel-heavy career.
This is not the only way that EA is paying tribute to John Madden.
In addition to the trio of exclusive covers, EA is also renaming a renovated field at EA HQ in Redwood Shores to “John Madden Field”. On top of this, EA has officially declared June 1 as “Madden Day”. EA is making in-game changes to Madden NFL 23 as well, adding an “interactive experience” in a bespoke mode that will have Coach Madden lead opposing teams filled with All-Madden athletes against himself at the 1970s Oakland Coliseum.
EA promises to reveal more about Madden NFL 23 tomorrow, June 2, which we’re hoping comes with a release date reveal.
