Which former coach returned to the cover of Madden NFL 23 as a tribute?

Which former coach returned to the cover of Madden NFL 23 as a tribute? John Madden. The game honored its namesake by placing the former Oakland Raiders coach and broadcaster on every edition’s cover.

John Madden was announced as Madden NFL 23’s cover star on June 1, 2022, known as Madden Day. The announcement came months after his death on December 28, 2021, making the cover a tribute to his influence on football, broadcasting, and the video-game series.

Madden had last appeared on a Madden cover in Madden NFL 2000. The next-generation edition used an image of him celebrating the Raiders’ victory in Super Bowl XI, while the All-Madden Edition drew on the artwork of the original John Madden Football game.

Madden coached the Raiders from 1969 through 1978 and led them to their first Super Bowl title. After retiring from coaching, he became a celebrated television analyst. His name and creative input were central to the game series from its early years, so this was more than a typical athlete cover selection.