• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 10, 2025

NFL Players to Join Madden NFL 21 Championship Series Programming

  • Every Tuesday night throughout the 2020 NFL season, Madden NFL will stream content via its Twitch and YouTube channels.
  • Programming is headlined by NFL player involvement.
NFL Players to Join Madden NFL 21 Championship Series Programming
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Madden NFL 21 Championship Series will have a new look than in years past when it begins Sept. 15, the NFL and EA Sports announced. 

The announcement comes after EA and the NFL and NFLPA signed a multi-year partnership renewal in May as engagement and viewership numbers soared for the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a 30% year-over-year increase in unique players. The Madden Championship Series is a nine-month competitive structure that culminates with the Madden Bowl, where one winner is crowned. 

Every Tuesday night throughout the 2020 NFL season, Madden NFL will bring gamers and football fans content via its Twitch and YouTube channels.

“Our world has drastically changed over the last few months, yet the love of competition and sense of connection that comes through games is stronger than ever,” Madden NFL Commissioner Matt Marcou said in an announcement. “This year Madden NFL will add several new formats, beyond our traditional tournament series, to appeal to an even broader audience. We believe that this is the most accessible and engaging competitive gaming content ever for both players and fans alike and is just the beginning of a new era of competitive gaming.”

NFL player involvement headlines the programming changes. 

Every week, a different celebrity, musical artist or athlete will challenge Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James in Madden NFL 21 for a segment called “Derwin vs. the World.” At the end of the season, James will play the winner of this year’s Madden Club Championship. 

“Fans got a taste of my skills when I won the Madden NFL 20 Celebrity Tournament back in April, and this time, I’m back to quiet any doubters that I’m the best Madden player in the League,” James said. “I’m a huge Madden fan and I look forward to showing up every Tuesday to take on new challengers and ultimately test my skills against the season’s best Madden player.” 

On Tuesday nights from Sept. 15 to Oct. 17, a new program called “King of the Hill” will pit two NFL athletes against two elite Madden NFL players in two parallel single-elimination tournaments. The winner from each matchup advances to the next week to meet a new challenger, and the two tournaments offer shares of a $50,000 prize pool — the NFL players’ shares will be donated to charities of their choice.

Overall, the Madden Championship Series will have its biggest prize pool ever at $1.4 million. It begins with the Madden NFL 21 Club Championship from Nov. 10 to Feb. 5, during which players will compete to represent each of the 32 NFL teams. All matches will be played remotely and join the Tuesday night streaming lineup starting in October. Pizza Hut is also returning as a sponsor of the series — all Madden Championship Series will be played in a Pizza Hut-branded virtual stadium.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

Thunder Favored, but Bettors Backing Pacers Big in NBA Finals

The most bet-on exact series outcome is the Thunder winning in five.
Fanduel
March 4, 2025

FanDuel Retains Sports Betting Crown With $14B in 2024 Revenue

The FanDuel parent company posts big increases in revenue and net income.
May 8, 2025

FanDuel Misses Projections As Betting Favorites Dominate 

FanDuel is hit by customer-friendly betting outcomes during March Madness.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
February 20, 2025

Americans Bet $148 Billion on Sports in 2024, Up 23.6%

Both overall handle and revenue rose by more than 20% last year.
DraftKings app
February 14, 2025

Lawsuit Says DraftKings VIP Program ‘Preyed On’ Gambling Addicts

The company’s being sued for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
August 20, 2024

Beloved ‘Backyard Sports’ Brand Says It Will Relaunch After Decade Hiatus

“Backyard Baseball” was a turn-of-the-century computer hit. 
DraftKings
August 2, 2024

DraftKings Announces Consumer Tax Starting Next Year

The company’s stock fell 5% Friday morning.