A standard Madden NFL game has 11 players on the field for each team. That number comes directly from American football’s rules, which Madden aims to simulate.
The 11 players are divided among specialized units. On offense, a typical lineup includes a quarterback, five offensive linemen, running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. The defense uses its own combination of linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. Special teams units enter for kickoffs, punts, field goals, and extra points.
The total number of players on a team is much larger than 11. NFL teams carry a 53-player active roster, and substitutions are allowed between plays. This lets coaches replace offensive, defensive, and special-teams players without changing the legal number on the field.
Madden also includes modes that do not represent a full standard game. For example, Madden NFL Arcade used five-on-five play, while certain drills and minigames have different formats. Those variants can cause confusion, but the standard football setup remains 11 players per team.