Madden Franchise
Madden Franchise mode has improved in some areas, but there are still several fixes and additions that would make it feel much more realistic and immersive.
One major improvement would be adding real-life offensive and defensive coordinators. Head coaches alone do not reflect how teams actually operate in the NFL. Coordinators play a huge role in play-calling, player development, scheme identity, and weekly adjustments. Having real coordinators with unique tendencies and schemes would add depth to Franchise and make team building and coaching changes much more meaningful.
Another issue is wide receiver auto-substitution. While there is technically a system in place, it rarely works properly. Receivers do not rotate naturally based on fatigue, snap count, or situational roles, which forces users to manually sub players in and out. A smarter rotation system would keep players fresh, increase realism, and make depth at the position actually matter.
Franchise also oddly misses the Comeback Player of the Year award, even though nearly every other major NFL award is included. This is a small detail, but Franchise is all about immersion and storytelling. Leaving out a real and meaningful award breaks that experience, especially for long-term saves where player arcs matter.
Gameplay realism is another area that needs attention, especially defensive pass interference. There are frequent situations where a receiver runs a route and collides with a defender who is clearly obstructing them downfield, causing an obvious missed throw. In real football, this would often be flagged as pass interference, yet Madden rarely calls it. This leads to unrealistic outcomes and punishes the offense for situations that should favor them.
Another improvement that would add a lot of immersion is player and team award presentations. When a player wins an award like MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, or Super Bowl MVP, there should be a short presentation or cutscene showing them actually receiving the trophy. Right now awards are mostly just menu notifications, which makes major accomplishments feel flat.
Along with that, when a team wins the Super Bowl, there should be an option for a ring ceremonybefore the next season begins. Even better would be the ability to customize the Super Bowl ring, whether that’s choosing design elements, engravings, or themes tied to the season and team. Franchise mode is about long-term storytelling, and showing players and teams receiving recognition would make championships and awards feel earned and memorable rather than just another screen you click through.
Overall, Franchise mode has a strong foundation, but these fixes and additions would go a long way in making it feel like a true NFL simulation rather than just a season mode with menus. Improving realism, immersion, and player control is what would keep Franchise players engaged year after year.
Lastly, if EA is ever looking for community voices or new perspectives on Franchise development, I would be very interested in pursuing a role related to game design, gameplay realism, or Franchise mode specifically. I spend a lot of time in Franchise and think deeply about what works, what breaks immersion, and what would meaningfully improve the experience for long-term players. I genuinely believe input from dedicated players can help push the mode forward, and I’d love the opportunity to be part of that process.
