It’s Madden season! On Thursday, EA Sports revealed the cover for Madden 22, as well as the initial trailer for the game.
Madden teased this year’s cover release by saying it was something it had ‘never done before,’ then posted a video on Wednesday with two goats coming out of a barn. On Thursday, those two goats were revealed to be Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
🏆 Two Super Bowl Champions
— Madden NFL 22 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 17, 2021
🏅 Two @NFL MVPS
🎮 Two 2x Madden Cover Athletes
The Greatest Cover of All-Time #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/ceMI9ouDE3
This isn’t the first time Brady and Mahomes have appeared on the cover of Madden. Brady was the cover athlete for Madden 18, Mahomes for Madden 20. While having two players share the cover is certainly a departure for the norm, it’s not unheard of – Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu shared the cover of Madden 10, which was released the year after their two teams met in Super Bowl XLIII.
While Patriots fans will have to see their former quarterback every time they look at the cover of this year’s game, there was a shot of their current QB in the trailer. At the 1:02 mark, Cam Newton can be seen pounding his head against a tablet on the bench, an old Madden animation for quarterbacks following an interception.
This is Madden like you’ve never seen it...
— Madden NFL 22 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 17, 2021
It’s a whole new vibe with ALL-NEW Dynamic Gameday
Pre-Order Now: https://t.co/crmTeY1hzH #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/jB15VcSfLK
If Patriots fans want a more positive spin, the team shared a game clip of Newton firing up the crowd at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots game days will be back at @GilletteStadium soon enough 🤩#Madden22's got us covered in the meantime: https://t.co/rhfOHmVUJh pic.twitter.com/Ltgxwi20mF
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 17, 2021
For fans of the game itself, especially those who play the longest running game mode in the series – franchise mode, there was a lot to be excited about in the trailer. Last year’s lacking franchise mode led to fans voicing their displeasure online to the point where EA was forced to respond. After pledging to upgrade the mode, a number of often-asked for features appeared in the trailer.
Based on the trailer, it looks like Madden 22 franchise is getting some much-needed updates. I see...
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) June 17, 2021
-Press conferences (looks like NBA 2K)
-Coaches & coordinators
-Game-by-game game plans
-Practice scheduling (like NFL 2K5)
-Coaching talent trees (like NCAA 14) pic.twitter.com/Gjv8q1SifP
As Patriots fans wait for their team to return to dominance, they may have a new way to make it happen themselves, albeit virtually. The game will officially be released on August 20, the day after the Patriots’ second preseason game.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.