Saturday, October 31, 2026

Super Bowl Rivals Come Together for ‘Madden 22’

  • Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will share the cover of ‘Madden 22.’
  • The game series has been a key revenue driver for Electronic Arts.
EA Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Super Bowl LV pitted a rising superstar against an NFL legend. Now, Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will face off again on the cover of EA’s “Madden 22.”

It is the second cover of the iconic video game for both quarterbacks and the first two-player cover since the 2010 edition.

The two signal callers possess the biggest brands in the sport right now. 

  • They are the NFL’s top two earners off the field, per Forbes, with Brady pocketing $31 million and Mahomes $26 million in endorsements for the 12 months ending May 1. Brady’s total earnings of $76 million placed ninth among all athletes, and Mahomes was 15th with $54.5 million.
  • Brady launched media company 199 Productions in 2020 and has a lifestyle brand, TB12, as well as an NFT company called Autograph. His sponsorships include Under Armour, T-Mobile, and Fanatics.
  • Mahomes has invested in WHOOP and Hyperice. His sponsors include adidas, Biosteel, and “Madden” producer Electronic Arts.

In-game transactions for EA’s “Ultimate Team” games, “Madden NFL 21,” “FIFA 21,” and “NHL 21,” brought in $1.6 billion of the company’s $5.6 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31. 

The game’s AI will adjust how players perform in the game based on their real-world results for the 2021 season. That could affect Brady or Mahomes, should either fall victim to the “Madden curse,” a phenomenon dating back to 1998 in which the game’s cover athlete gets injured the following year.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Louisville’s Miller Moss and several of his teammates stopped by Olympus Gaming Lounge to play EA Sports College Football 26 with fans for a meet and greet. July 11, 2025

Saudis, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner Take EA Private in $55B Deal

Electronic Arts makes “Madden,” “EA Sports College Football,” and more.
The cover of the College Football 25 video game.
Exclusive

OneTeam Backs Away From College Football Video Game Terms

EA offered $1,500 and no royalties; it also deleted an opt-out clause.

EA Sports Is Back In College Basketball. What’s Next?

There hasn’t been a college basketball game in more than 15 years.
Arch Manning

EA Sports Will Pay Players $1,500 for College Football Game

A company is still negotiating for royalties, a source tells FOS.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/30/26 – First WNBA Game 7, Utah Targets Kalshi Founders, Cowboys Cheerleaders Unionize

0:00

Featured Today

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Oct 10, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit:

Dylan Larkin’s Trade Demand Comes With a $41K Daily Price Tag

Larkin is playing an expensive waiting game, holding out for a trade.
October 28, 2026

Golf and Tennis See Big Gains in Youth Sports Participation

Youth participation in flag football also keeps growing.
October 30, 2026

Pro Marathoners Grapple With the Sport’s Pervasive Doping Problem

Pros and coaches tell FOS the ripple effects last for years.
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.
October 28, 2026

Saquon Barkley Opposes 18-Game NFL Season: ‘Hell of a Sport’

The Eagles RB cited player health.
Exclusive
October 28, 2026

NFL Told Saquon Barkley to Divest Polymarket Stake

“I was in it before, but no bueno,” Barkley told FOS.
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.
October 25, 2026

Jackson Contract Standoff Looms Over Ravens As Team Treads Water

The two-time MVP missed his third straight game.