We now know who will be on the cover of Madden 23!
On the 34th anniversary of the first "Madden NFL" video game hitting stores, EA Sports has announced that Madden himself, the late Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden, will serve as the cover man for this year's "Madden NFL 23."
The former legendary coach, who died at the age of 85 last December, won't just return as the face of the game for the first time in more than two decades, appearing in an updated version of the original 1988 cover, but will also be commemorated in the video game.
Indeed, Madden first announced the cover of his annual NFL series for "John Madden Football," of which there have been 40 different editions since its inception. A year after huge stars QB Tom Brady and QB Patrick Mahomes were featured as the first co-cover athletes in over a decade, the "Madden NFL 23" cover recreates the 1988 cover, in which John Madden is bursting through a chalkboard with Xs and Os while carrying a football, by surrounding the coach with silver and gold and a message: "Thank you, Coach."
Madden's passing during the 2021 season at the age of 85 sent ripples through the NFL. For many, he is still the voice of the NFL, and he is widely respected within the game. Therefore, it was a logical choice for EA Sports to return to its roots and feature him on the cover of Madden 23.
