Madden NFL Game Firsts
The First Madden Game to feature Superstar KO as a game mode.
Madden 20
Fans in this city were left outraged when their beloved SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Seattle
3 players have won the award 3 times, Aaron Donald, Lawrence Taylor and this defensive end.
J.J. Watt
Prior to the 12 team college football playoff, this conference was the only one outside of the power 5 conferences (at the time) to send a team to the 4 team CFP.
American
Simply known to most intelligent fans as The GOAT.
Michael Jordan
The First Madden Game to feature 2 players on the cover instead of 1.
Madden 10
Art Modell caught a lot of flack when he announced the move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore but at least it was announced and played out properly, unlike in 1984 when the Baltimore Colts moved to this city, literally in the middle of the night.
Indianapolis
Since it was first awarded in 1971, this Franchise known for its Defense has produced the most winners with 8.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Oh how the mighty have fallen, after the collapse of the Pac 12, the conference ceased to be a power conference when 10 of the 12 teams left the conference, leaving only these 2 behind.
Washington State and Oregon State
Surprisingly this player was taken #3 overall in 2014. Doesn't feel like he has been around that long given he has never played 70 games in a season since the 76ers drafted him that high.
Joel Embiid
The First Madden Game to have the Houston Texans as a playable team.
Madden 2002
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic franchises in North American sports, however they did not start in LA. They spent 13 years in this city before moving to LA in 1960.
Minneapolis
The most recent unanimous NFL DPOY.
Myles Garrett
The newest additions to the FBS for 2026 will be Sacramento State (joining the MAC) and this school joining the Mountain West who holds the record for the most FCS Championships in NCAA history.
North Dakota State
Lebron won rookie of the year in 2003 but many felt this player drafted #3 overall got robbed due to averaging more points and rebounds than LBJ and leading his team to a playoff berth.
Carmelo Anthony
The First Madden Game with a playable story mode which was titled "Longshot".
Madden 18
The LA Rams are famous for moving from LA to St. Louis and then back to LA in their history. However the team actually started in this city back in 1936, before moving to LA in 1946.
Cleveland
Often considered one of the greatest CBs in NFL history, this famous shutdown Corner surprisingly never won the award. The closest he came was a runner up finish to another legendary CB, Charles Woodson in 2009.
Darrelle Revis
Everyone remembers when Appalachian State defeated Michigan in 2007. Less known however is when App State defeated this school ranked #6 at the time in 2022, which led to College Gameday coming to Boone, NC for the very first time.
Texas A&M
Originally drafted by the Jazz #3 in 1982, this player was traded to Atlanta just a few short months later and became a 9x All Star and had his number retired by the franchise.
Dominique Wilkins
The First Madden Game to introduce the very popular "Hit Stick", very fitting that this version of the game focused more heavily on defensive updates rather than the more common offensive updates.
Madden 2005
The Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and this 3rd franchise are the only current NBA Franchises to win a championship but not in their current home location. The Thunder were the 4th team up until their win the 2025 NBA Finals.
Sacramento Kings
The first ever winner of the NFL DPOY award back in 1971, was a member of the famous "Purple People Eaters" defensive line.
Alan Page
Prior to the 12 team college football playoff, the best team from the Group of 5/6 got an automatic bid to a new years 6 bowl game. The last one of these schools to win their bowl was this school who knocked off USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Tulane
The player who was supposed to revive the Charlotte Bobcats drafted #3 in 2006 became one of the biggest draft busts in NBA History.
Adam Morrison