Younger gamers may not know it, but long before he made a career for himself as the name in football game, John Madden began his time in the NFL as a coach for the Raiders, and it's to this role that he'll be returning in his 25th game.
EA has announced on the game's website that Madden himself (or at least a virtual version sporting a smaller stomach and more hair) is taking on coaching duties for Madden 25's all-star team, dubbed the All-25, noting his second-highest winning percentage of any coach in NFL history, outdone only by the legendary Vince Lombardi.
EA is encouraging players to follow the site as it reveals what other NFL stars will take on the remaining positions on the all-star steam. Since Madden's reveal, the identities of two other players have also been given: Mike Alstott of the Bucaneers, and the Rams' Marshall Faulk as fullback and running back respectively.
We've included the schedule of reveals for the team, and will update accordingly:
July 31 - Defensive End
August 1 - Free and Strong Safety
August 2 - Cornerback
August 4 - Quarterback
August 6 - Wide Receiver and Tight End
August 7 - Left and Right Tackle, and Center
August 8 - Left and Right Guard
August 9 - Linebacker and Middle Linebacker
August 10 - Defensive Tackle
Madden began his NFL career as the linebacker coach for the Raiders back in '67, and was credited for helping the team reach Super Bowl II. He was named the team's head coach in '69, becoming the NFL's youngest coach ever at the age of 32. He would lead the team while the Steelers knocked them around through the early 70's, until they finally won their first Super Bowl against the Vikings in '77. He retired from coaching after the '78 season, and became a commentator and analyst for the NFL until 2008. The video below goes into further detail.
He's been the face and name of the EA football game since 1988, and remains big reason why Frank Caliendo is still working.
Madden 25 releases on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on August 27th. It's also scheduled to hit the next-gen PlayStation 4 and Xbox One whenever the consoles launch. A demo will arrive in mid-August.
