Gridiron Notes: Welcome Back, Kap!

Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback. The team at EA SPORTS, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game. We’ve had a long relationship with Colin through Madden NFL and worked through our past soundtrack mistakes.

Knowing that our EA SPORTS experiences are platforms for players to create, we want to make Madden NFL a place that reflects Colin’s position and talent, rates him as a starting QB, and empowers our fans to express their hopes for the future of football. We’ve worked with Colin to make this possible, and we’re excited to bring it to all of you today. 

Starting today in Madden NFL 21, fans can put Colin Kaepernick at the helm of any NFL team in Franchise mode, as well as play with him in Play Now. We look forward to seeing Colin on Madden NFL teams everywhere.

In Franchise mode, players have the opportunity to sign Kaepernick by starting a new franchise with their favorite team as an owner or coach where they are in control. Once the franchise has been started, simply go to sign free agents and sort by QBs to find Kaepernick as the highest-rated free agent QB in the game.

Based on Kaepernick’s prior on-the-field performance, combined with our data-driven EA SPORTS ratings simulations, Kaepernick is an 81 OVR, which takes into account that he has not taken the field since 2016. When Kaepernick was a healthy starting quarterback he was rated 89, 89, 81 overall and known for his strong touchdown-to-interception ratio, mobility, and playoff performances. And because this is YOUR franchise, you also have the ability to adjust Kaepernick’s ratings, giving you the flexibility to add him to the 99 Club.

Now’s your chance to bring back Kap and be the virtual GM that signs one of the most dynamic QBs in the game. Make sure you choose the live roster file option when starting your franchise and sign Kaepernick before the start of week 1 of the preseason because the CPU controlled-teams definitely won’t miss the chance to scoop him up and make him their starter.

The Yard is a brand new backyard football-inspired mode in Madden NFL 21 where self-expression with your own create-a-player (CAP), wild gameplay moments, house rules, and a fearless attitude are the name of the game. In celebration of Kaepernick’s return, the Nike Kaepernick Icon Jersey 2.0 will be made available for free inside The Yard for you to equip your CAP.

Signature, user-controlled celebrations are new to Madden NFL 21 and Kaepernick has chosen his own for fans to activate in game. Following a big play or touchdown, you will see Kaepernick raise his fist as a symbol of Black Power when you choose to celebrate with him, as he did during his last season.

To celebrate Kaepernick’s return and the start of the NFL season, Madden NFL 21 will be free-to-play Thursday, September 10th through Sunday, September 13th, so that all fans have an opportunity to play with Kap.