EA Sports made sure to properly honor the late John Madden.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
The legendary Pro Football Hall-of-Fame coach and broadcaster and KCBS Radio contributor, who died in December, will grace the cover of the iconic video game that bears his name — the first time he has appeared on the cover since 2000, EA Sports announced on Wednesday.
There will actually be three covers of Madden 23, all of them bearing a different image of the video game's namesake. The first cover honors his legacy as a video game icon, using the same picture which was used in the very first Madden in 1988. The other two covers celebrate his historic career as an NFL head coach and broadcaster.
EA Sports made the announcement on the anniversary of the very first Madden game — June 1, 1988.
The video game is a major part of Madden’s legacy as it has helped his influence on the game span multiple generations, becoming the best-selling American football video game franchise of all time.
Listen to sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest NFL team gear
Since 2001, EA Sports shifted away from putting Madden on the cover in favor of a player — which eventually became a highly anticipated moment for fans. At one point it also foreshadowed some bad luck, as many athletes had down years or became injured and a "Madden Curse" was born but it has since been debunked.
EA Sports will unveil a "full reveal" on the Madden 23 game on Thursday.
In addition, Madden's voice will return to the game through remastered audio clips which call back to his broadcasting career. There will also be a new interactive game mode that which feature two versions of Madden as a coach leading opposing teams in the 1970s Oakland Coliseum.
The company also announced the unveiling of a football field dedicated to Madden named "John Madden Field," located at EA's global headquarters in Redwood City. Four Bay Area youth flag football teams will be invited to play on the new field Wednesday.
Finally, EA provided more details about a $5 million contribution they are making called the "John Madden Legacy Commitment to Education." Half of the money will be donated to non-profits focused on STEM education while the other $2.5 million will go to the creation EA Madden Scholarship which will support students at 12 different Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
