Madden NFL 23’s next-gen cover shows John Madden celebrating victory in Super Bowl XI.
Madden coached the Oakland Raiders to a 32–14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977. The win made him a Super Bowl champion and remains the defining championship image associated with his coaching career.
The cover was part of Madden NFL 23’s tribute to its namesake, who died in December 2021. EA announced Madden as the cover star on June 1, 2022, known as “Madden Day,” which also marked the anniversary of the first John Madden Football release.
A common mix-up is confusing the next-generation cover with the All-Madden Edition cover. The next-gen artwork uses the Super Bowl XI celebration, while the All-Madden Edition was based on the original John Madden Football cover design. Super Bowl XI was also the only Super Bowl won by Madden as a head coach.