Remembering Coach John Madden
The below announcement was shared with Electronic Arts employees by our CEO Andrew Wilson.
Our dear friend John Madden passed away in late December. His passing was a tremendous loss for the American football community, for the sports world at large, and for all of us at Electronic Arts. John was a member of our family from our earliest days. As the world remembers Coach Madden in memorial services this week, our hearts are heavy but full with all that he gave us.
As a coach, as a broadcaster, and in our game - Coach Madden is football for tens of millions of fans. He had an incredible record as a head coach, including a victory in Super Bowl XI. He transitioned to broadcasting, where his 30+ years across multiple networks showed he was clearly the most innovative, relatable and entertaining voice in football. Along the way, we launched a video game franchise that has defined decades of sports games, taught generations how to play the game, and built millions of friendships and connections. Through his life in the sport, Coach Madden became an icon.
Like he did for so many others, Coach Madden introduced me to American football. As an Australian, I learned through his broadcasts and our game. I was able to immerse myself in the sport through his unique perspective and the way he brought every dimension of the game to life. His energy and endless affection for football was inescapable - you couldn’t talk with Coach Madden, or watch one of his broadcasts, and not appreciate how much he loved the game.
Coach Madden taught us many things during the 35 years that he worked with us and our teams. Some of the most important lessons formed the foundation of EA SPORTS. From the first iteration of John Madden Football in 1988, Coach Madden was insistent on authenticity. He wanted 11v11 football. He wanted real players in the game. He wanted true gameday conditions. No one loved the Xs and Os more than Coach Madden, and he opened his playbook to us in that first year and every year after. That commitment to authenticity is something at the heart of EA SPORTS ever since.
We have released a tribute film that brings Coach Madden to life from the perspective of those who have learned from him. These stories show the importance of the man behind the name. Coach Madden has deeply inspired so many in the football world and beyond, and this film is just one small way we could show that.
We are committed to celebrating Coach Madden’s legacy and honoring his impact. We will do this at our company, in the community, and through our games:
- John Madden Field. At our Redwood City headquarters, we are redesigning and renaming the Great Lawn to become “John Madden Field.” The field design and other commemorative touches at our campus will permanently honor Coach’s Madden’s legacy and impact on our company. At our Tiburon studio in Orlando, we are creating “John Madden Plaza” and installing a permanent commemorative mural.
- The John Madden Legacy Commitment to Education. Coach Madden was a lifelong learner and shared our passion for education and creating opportunities for young people in underrepresented communities. We are going to invest in this area to extend John’s legacy and his love of learning by launching the John Madden Legacy Commitment to Education. We will contribute $5 million to national and Bay Area STEAM-related non-profits, and create a college scholarship program in honor of him.
- Madden NFL Experiences. We are truly fortunate to be able to continue Coach Madden’s legacy through future Madden NFL games. Beginning with Madden NFL 23, we will be commemorating Coach in our game. We’ll have more specifics to share on that as we move into the summer.
We are unbelievably fortunate to have been part of Coach Madden’s life, and now we are incredibly honored to be part of how it will live on, now and into the future.
Thank you, Coach Madden.
Andrew
