John Madden’s 2009 retirement was from broadcasting, not from the football game that bears his name. EA Sports said it would keep Madden’s name attached to the series, which continues today as Madden NFL.
What did John Madden retire from in 2009?
Madden, then 73, retired from broadcasting in April 2009. EA Sports said he would remain associated with its football game and that the Madden name would stay on it. EA Sports chief Peter Moore told GamesBeat: “It’s been a privilege for EA Sports to have had the strong relationship we’ve had with John for more than two decades and one that will continue into the future.”
This was not a coaching retirement announcement. Madden had left coaching after the 1978 season, retiring as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1979 before moving into broadcasting. NFL.com’s account of his 2009 broadcasting retirement distinguishes it from that earlier career change.
GamesBeat’s April 17, 2009 report quoted Moore saying, “We’re excited to see his legacy live on in the 21st year of Madden NFL football, and well beyond.” The promise was about continuing the game and its association with Madden; it did not mean he had retired from the game as a player or that the series was ending.
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- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 game. Experience authentic NFL gameplay with Franchise mode, Superstar Career, and Ultimate Team.
- DYNAMIC FRANCHISE MODE – Persona Engine brings each NFL athlete to life with unique personalities, creating a reactive and evolving league shaped by your decisions.
- AUTHENTIC NFL GAMEPLAY – Realistic WR vs DB battles, improved coverage, and new short-yardage mechanics deliver true on-field physicality and control.
- BUILD YOUR LEGACY – Progress through the Superstar G.O.A.T. Career Journey and customize your roster with Ultimate Team Captains.
How Madden became part of the game
The connection began well before the 2009 announcement. The Pro Football Hall of Fame says EA approached Madden in 1984 to lend his football expertise and voice to a new NFL game. The project took almost five years to reach the market: Madden insisted the game represent realistic football, and the first installment arrived in 1988.
That history helps explain why his name was more than a title pasted onto an unrelated product. Madden’s football knowledge and voice were part of the series’ early identity. The Hall of Fame’s 2021 account of Madden’s coaching, broadcasting and gaming legacy describes the origins of that partnership.
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Did Madden NFL continue after Madden’s death?
Yes. Madden died on December 28, 2021, at age 85. Later releases continued the franchise, but that continuation should not be read as evidence of his personal involvement after his death. For example, EA announced Madden NFL 22 in June 2021, before his death, with Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes on the cover and an August 20, 2021 launch date.
EA and the NFL said in an October 2025 partnership announcement that Madden NFL would continue as the exclusive NFL action simulation game. EA’s page for Madden NFL 27, current as of October 8, 2026, identifies the franchise’s current release. EA also says its community plays more than 2 billion Madden NFL games each year; that is the company’s reported figure, not an independently audited count.
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- Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 (cartridge) includes the full EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 game. Not compatible with Nintendo Switch. Enjoy Franchise mode, Superstar Career, and Ultimate Team.
- DYNAMIC FRANCHISE MODE – Persona Engine brings each NFL athlete to life with unique personalities, creating a reactive and evolving league shaped by your decisions.
- AUTHENTIC NFL GAMEPLAY – Realistic WR vs DB battles, improved coverage, and new short-yardage mechanics deliver true on-field physicality and control.
- BUILD YOUR LEGACY – Progress through the Superstar G.O.A.T. Career Journey and customize your roster with Ultimate Team Captains.
The series therefore carries Madden’s name and legacy forward as a brand and game franchise. Its ongoing releases are not proof that Madden personally worked on games after 2021. EA’s 2025 announcement with the NFL describes the partnership and the franchise’s continuing status.
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- American football simulation game brings all the intensity and realism of NFL players, drafts, and strategies to your console - Game modes include Superstar: The League, Superstar: Showdown, Franchise, Madden Ultimate Team, and Cross-play for endless variation.
- Anatomically accurate player skeletons are more responsive, achieving true-to-life player motion during gameplay - Field SENSE animation technology provides greater control, realism, and immersive Ness when performing complex maneuvers.
- AI enhanced movement makes it easier for your team to execute your gameplan with ball carrier pathfinding and QB and DB awareness.
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John Madden’s career timeline
- 1979: Retired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders after the 1978 season.
- 1984: EA approached Madden to contribute his football expertise and voice to a game.
- 1988: The first Madden football game was released.
- April 17, 2009: Madden retired from broadcasting; EA said the game would keep his name.
- December 28, 2021: Madden died at age 85.
- October 22, 2025: EA and the NFL announced an expanded multiyear partnership, with Madden NFL continuing as the exclusive NFL action simulation game.
- August 13, 2026: EA’s Madden NFL 27 page presented the current release.
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