Earlier today, 85-year-old legendary NFL player and coach John Madden passed away peacefully at his home. The “maddening” piece of news sent shockwaves across the world. Thanks to his vested interests in different spectrums of sports media, the former Oakland Raiders coach had non-NFL fans as well. Fans who don’t follow John know him for the popular football video game “Madden NFL,” which has the legendary coach’s last name. Madden NFL is a billion-dollar video game franchise owned by EA. So far, more than 130 million copies of the game have been sold across the world, and it has raked in a massive $4 billion in revenue. John Madden passes away at age 85. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/John-Madden-3.jpg]FILE PHOTO: Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden waves to the crowd before the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame pre-season game in Canton, Ohio, August 6, 2006. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan While many know John Madden to be the poster boy of “Madden.” However, many do not know the story behind why he was chosen, and interestingly, he wasn’t even the first choice. JOHN MADDEN WAS NOT THE FIRST CHOICE FOR “MADDEN NFL” Back in 1988, EA Sports Founder Trip Hawkins wanted [http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100805/madden&redirected=true] a video game based on football. Selling and marketing this new concept with a football icon was a must, and hence Hawkins went to Joe Montana and pitched his proposal. Unfortunately, the former 49ers quarterback had to turn down the opportunity thanks to his contractual obligations with Atari. Read more: Fans Believe EA Has No Choice But to Take This Massive Step to Honor John Madden [https://www.essentiallysports.com/esports-news-fans-believe-ea-has-no-choice-but-to-take-this-massive-step-to-honor-john-madden/] Montana’s snubbing meant that Hawkins had to approach their second option – John Madden and rest, as they say, is history. Madden’s inclusion was a boon for EA, as he also helped them from a technical POV [https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/29/tech/madden-nfl-video-game-legacy/index.html]. The game, during its debut release on the Apple II, encountered software issues owing to the number of players present on the screen. Moreover, many users complained of a lack of realty as the game was played on a 7 v 7 format. Once Madden joined the fray, he immediately demanded a change to a “real” 11 v 11 football; and thanks to him, EA now has sold 130 million copies. If Madden had flopped back then, EA would have most probably dropped a football video game. But thanks to the video game icon, Madden not only exists but acts as a virtual gateway to the world of the NFL. Also Read: NFL and NFLPA Come to a Game-Changing Agreement on a Crucial Issue Ahead of the Playoffs [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-news-nfl-and-nflpa-come-to-a-game-changing-agreement-on-a-crucial-issue-ahead-of-the-playoffs/] 

While many know John Madden to be the poster boy of "Madden", not many know the
story behind why and how he was chosen.

Suresh Menon is an NFL and Football writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently
pursuing BMM from St Xavier's College with his specialization in Advertising.
Juventus is his favorite soccer club and he one day plans to go to Italy and
watch a Juve match live. Suresh's hobbies include working out and solving the
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How Did John Madden Become the Poster Boy of One of the Biggest Video Games in
the World?

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<h2 style="text-align: center">Las Vegas Raiders 2022: News, Schedule, Roster, Score, Injury Report</h2>
<p style="text-align: center">The Raiders franchise was originally based in Oakland, California and they played their first season as charter members of the AFL in 1960. During the 19700 AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders moved to into the NFL. Moreover, from the 1982 season onwards all the way through the 1994 season, the club had moved out of Oakland and relocated to Los Angeles.</p>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-485902 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/raiders.jpg" alt="" width="1512" height="850" />
<p style="text-align: center">However, this would prove to be yet another stop as the NFL team owners decided in March 2017 to approve the Raiders’ application to relocate to Las Vegas. What’s more, this move came in through nearly unanimous approval. On January 22, 2020, the Raiders official picked up the mantle of the Las Vegas Raiders.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">Although the initial years were fraught with hardships, the entry of Al Davis and his continued attempts at improvement saw things turn around in 1967. The team went on the win it’s first and only AFL championship, however; they were soundly dispatched by the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl II. The franchise currently clocks in with 15 division titles, 4 AFC championships, 1 AFL championship (1967), and 3 Super Bowl Chips: XI, XV, XVII in 1976, 1980, and 1983 respectively.</p>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-485904 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/raid.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="600" />
<p style="text-align: center">The Las Vegas Raiders finished off the 2020 season with the placement of second in the AFC West with an 8-8 record. They were looking to make their run into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.</p>


[caption id="attachment_498803" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-498803 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201231193946/2020-12-27T040708Z_2140696694_MT1USATODAY15363675_RTRMADP_3_NFL-MIAMI-DOLPHINS-AT-LAS-VEGAS-RAIDERS.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" /> Dec 26, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/REUTERS[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center">Logo</h2>
<p style="text-align: center">The general outline of the logo saw a pirate wearing a football helmet with an eye patch with two white swords in black trim placed crisscross. The original logo placed the aforementioned setting behind a gold football background. However, during the transition from being the Oakland Raiders to the Los Angeles Raiders, the franchise scrapped the black and gold scheme.</p>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-485908 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/aida.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="469" />
<p style="text-align: center">A sleeker silver and black look was selected and has remained the standard for the current iteration of the Las Vegas Raiders. The aforementioned symbolism of the eye-patch wearing pirate was now permanently placed on a black shield. The Las Vegas Raiders added a black outline to the previous design, however, everything else remained virtually identical.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center">Owner achievements</h2>
<p style="text-align: center">Mark M Davis is the principal owner and managing general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders. As of late 2015, Davis has an estimated net worth coming in at $500 million making him a true powerhouse within the NFL owners circle. Chiefly, he inherited the team after the death of his father Al Davis in 2011.</p>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-485910 size-full" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/davis-3-2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1085" />
<p style="text-align: center">Prior to owning the team, Davis was involved in the retail part of the business and helped in the organization of Image stores. Moreover, Davis and his mother Carol own 47 percent share of the franchise and this is contractually structured to give them controlling interest. Al Davis has continued day-to-day ownership of the team.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center">Las Vegas Raiders 2022 Sponsors</h2>
<p style="text-align: center">Modelo came in as the official Cerveza of the Las Vegas Raiders and the brand new Allegiant Stadium through the deal signed by Constellation Brands. Moreover, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians also announced a partnership with the Vegas-based outfit. Desert Ford Dealers inked a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders to become the official vehicle of the Raider Nation.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">Some other signings include Aristocrat Technologies as well as Matsing, the leading manufacturer of high-capacity lens antennas. Through the tie-up with MatSing, Allegiant Stadium’s seating and the Modelo tailgate Zone will provide fans with 4G and 5G broadband mobile coverage once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center">Las Vegas 2022 Roster Foundation</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Quarterbacks</td>
<td width="301">#4 Derek Carr

#15 Chase Garbers

#3 Jarrett Stidham</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Running Backs</td>
<td width="301">#22 Ameer Abdullah

#34 Brandon Bolden

#38 Brittain Brown

#28 Josh Jacobs

#32 Austin Walter

#35 Zamir White</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Wide Receivers</td>
<td width="301">#17 Davante Adams

#84 Keelan Cole

#12 Justin Hall

#10 Mack Hollins

#1 Tyron Johnson

#13 Hunter Renfrow

#16 Dillon Stoner

#19 DJ Turner

#89 Isaiah Zuber</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Tight Ends</td>
<td width="301">#82 Nick Bowers

#85 Cole Fotheringham

#88 Jacob Hollister

#80 Jesper Horsted

#87 Foster Moreau

#83 Darren Waller</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Offensive Linemen</td>
<td width="301">#68 Andre James

#67 Lester Cotton Sr.

#66 Dylan Parham

#76 John Simpson

#70 Alex Leatherwood

#64 Alex Barr

#72 Jermaine Eluemunor

#65 Hroniss Grasu

#61 Jordan Meredith

#78 Jackson Barton

#74 Kolton Miller

#77 Thayer Munford Jr.

#79 Bamidele Olaseni

#75 Brandon Parker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Defensive Linemen</td>
<td width="301">#96 Tashawn Bower

#98 Maxx Crosby

#99 Clelin Ferrell

#55 Chandler Jones

#51 Malcolm Koonce

#69 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa

#54 Zach VanValkenburg

#93 Neil Farrell Jr.

#63 Tyler Lancaster

#97 Andrew Billings

#73 Matthew Butler

#90 Johnathan Hankins

#91 Bilal Nichols

#92 Kyle Peko

#95 Kendal Vickers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Linebackers</td>
<td width="301">#36 Curtis Bolton

#50 Jayon Brown

#58 Darien Butler

#53 Tae Davis

#5 Divine Deablo

#59 Luke Masterson

#52 Denzel Perryman</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Defensive Backs</td>
<td width="301">#29 Anthony Averett

#46 Isiah Brown

#44 Bryce Cosby

#39 Nate Hobbs

#27 Trayvon Mullen Jr.

#20 Darius Phillips

#21 Amik Robertson

#48 Sam Webb

#26 Rock Ya-Sin

#24 Johnathan Abram

#42 Qwynnterrio Cole

#49 Matthias Farley

#30 Duron Harmon

#25 Tre’von Moehrig

#40 Isaiah Pola-Mao

#33 Roderic Teamer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Special Teams</td>
<td width="301">#2 Daniel Carlson

#47 Trent Sieg

#6 AJ Cole</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: center">2022 Charity</h2>
<p style="text-align: center">Initiated in 2015, the Raiders Foundation is the charitable arm of the Las Vegas Raiders that is geared towards supporting the local community of the Raiders Nation. Moreover, there is the community Investment Grant that looks at supporting the military, youth development, and growing the game of football.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">Other initiatives are also put into place such as the ‘Legacy Brick Program’ that offers the public rare opportunities to purchase a personalized Legacy Brick at the Allegiant Stadium. Moreover, outreach programs are also done. Notably, Raiders alumni visited the homes of Veterans as well as Creech Air Force Base.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center">History and Achievements</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Founded</td>
<td width="301">1960</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Owner</td>
<td width="301">Mark Davis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">CEO</td>
<td width="301">Sandra Douglas Morgan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Head Coach</td>
<td width="301">Josh McDaniels</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">General Manager</td>
<td width="301">Dave Ziegler</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Stadium</td>
<td width="301">Allegiant Stadium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Location</td>
<td width="301">Paradise. Nevada</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Sponsors</td>
<td width="301">BetMGM, Henriksen Butler, Desert Ford Dealers, San Manuel Casinos, Aristocrat, MatSing, Modelo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Championships</td>
<td width="301">League championships (3)

AFL championships (pre-AFL-NFL merger-1)

1967

Super Bowl championships (3)

1976 (XI), 1980 (XV), 1983 (XVIII)

Conference championships (4)

AFC: 1976, 1980, 1983, 2002

Division championships (15)

AFL West: 1967, 1968, 1969

AFC West: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2002</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Official Website</td>
<td width="301">Las Vegas Raiders- <a href="https://www.raiders.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.raiders.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders 2022: News, Schedule, Roster, Score, Injury Report The Raiders franchise was originally based in Oakland, California and they played their first season as charter members of the AFL in 1960. During the 19700 AFL-NFL merger, the Raiders moved to into the NFL. Moreover, from the 1982 season onwards all the way through the 1994 season, the club had moved out of Oakland and relocated to Los Angeles. However, this would prove to be yet another stop as the NFL team owners decided in March 2017 to approve the Raiders’ application to relocate to Las Vegas. What’s more, this move came in through nearly unanimous approval. On January 22, 2020, the Raiders official picked up the mantle of the Las Vegas Raiders. Although the initial years were fraught with hardships, the entry of Al Davis and his continued attempts at improvement saw things turn around in 1967. The team went on the win it’s first and only AFL championship, however; they were soundly dispatched by the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl II. The franchise currently clocks in with 15 division titles, 4 AFC championships, 1 AFL championship (1967), and 3 Super Bowl Chips: XI, XV, XVII in 1976, 1980, and 1983 respectively. The Las Vegas Raiders finished off the 2020 season with the placement of second in the AFC West with an 8-8 record. They were looking to make their run into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Dec 26, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/REUTERS Logo The general outline of the logo saw a pirate wearing a football helmet with an eye patch with two white swords in black trim placed crisscross. The original logo placed the aforementioned setting behind a gold football background. However, during the transition from being the Oakland Raiders to the Los Angeles Raiders, the franchise scrapped the black and gold scheme. A sleeker silver and black look was selected and has remained the standard for the current iteration of the Las Vegas Raiders. The aforementioned symbolism of the eye-patch wearing pirate was now permanently placed on a black shield. The Las Vegas Raiders added a black outline to the previous design, however, everything else remained virtually identical. Owner achievements Mark M Davis is the principal owner and managing general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders. As of late 2015, Davis has an estimated net worth coming in at $500 million making him a true powerhouse within the NFL owners circle. Chiefly, he inherited the team after the death of his father Al Davis in 2011. Prior to owning the team, Davis was involved in the retail part of the business and helped in the organization of Image stores. Moreover, Davis and his mother Carol own 47 percent share of the franchise and this is contractually structured to give them controlling interest. Al Davis has continued day-to-day ownership of the team. Las Vegas Raiders 2022 Sponsors Modelo came in as the official Cerveza of the Las Vegas Raiders and the brand new Allegiant Stadium through the deal signed by Constellation Brands. Moreover, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians also announced a partnership with the Vegas-based outfit. Desert Ford Dealers inked a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders to become the official vehicle of the Raider Nation. Some other signings include Aristocrat Technologies as well as Matsing, the leading manufacturer of high-capacity lens antennas. Through the tie-up with MatSing, Allegiant Stadium’s seating and the Modelo tailgate Zone will provide fans with 4G and 5G broadband mobile coverage once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Las Vegas 2022 Roster Foundation  Quarterbacks #4 Derek Carr #15 Chase Garbers #3 Jarrett Stidham  Running Backs #22 Ameer Abdullah #34 Brandon Bolden #38 Brittain Brown #28 Josh Jacobs #32 Austin Walter #35 Zamir White  Wide Receivers #17 Davante Adams #84 Keelan Cole #12 Justin Hall #10 Mack Hollins #1 Tyron Johnson #13 Hunter Renfrow #16 Dillon Stoner #19 DJ Turner #89 Isaiah Zuber  Tight Ends #82 Nick Bowers #85 Cole Fotheringham #88 Jacob Hollister #80 Jesper Horsted #87 Foster Moreau #83 Darren Waller  Offensive Linemen #68 Andre James #67 Lester Cotton Sr. #66 Dylan Parham #76 John Simpson #70 Alex Leatherwood #64 Alex Barr #72 Jermaine Eluemunor #65 Hroniss Grasu #61 Jordan Meredith #78 Jackson Barton #74 Kolton Miller #77 Thayer Munford Jr. #79 Bamidele Olaseni #75 Brandon Parker  Defensive Linemen #96 Tashawn Bower #98 Maxx Crosby #99 Clelin Ferrell #55 Chandler Jones #51 Malcolm Koonce #69 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa #54 Zach VanValkenburg #93 Neil Farrell Jr. #63 Tyler Lancaster #97 Andrew Billings #73 Matthew Butler #90 Johnathan Hankins #91 Bilal Nichols #92 Kyle Peko #95 Kendal Vickers  Linebackers #36 Curtis Bolton #50 Jayon Brown #58 Darien Butler #53 Tae Davis #5 Divine Deablo #59 Luke Masterson #52 Denzel Perryman  Defensive Backs #29 Anthony Averett #46 Isiah Brown #44 Bryce Cosby #39 Nate Hobbs #27 Trayvon Mullen Jr. #20 Darius Phillips #21 Amik Robertson #48 Sam Webb #26 Rock Ya-Sin #24 Johnathan Abram #42 Qwynnterrio Cole #49 Matthias Farley #30 Duron Harmon #25 Tre’von Moehrig #40 Isaiah Pola-Mao #33 Roderic Teamer  Special Teams #2 Daniel Carlson #47 Trent Sieg #6 AJ Cole  2022 Charity Initiated in 2015, the Raiders Foundation is the charitable arm of the Las Vegas Raiders that is geared towards supporting the local community of the Raiders Nation. Moreover, there is the community Investment Grant that looks at supporting the military, youth development, and growing the game of football. Other initiatives are also put into place such as the ‘Legacy Brick Program’ that offers the public rare opportunities to purchase a personalized Legacy Brick at the Allegiant Stadium. Moreover, outreach programs are also done. Notably, Raiders alumni visited the homes of Veterans as well as Creech Air Force Base. History and Achievements  Founded 1960  Owner Mark Davis  CEO Sandra Douglas Morgan  Head Coach Josh McDaniels  General Manager Dave Ziegler  Stadium Allegiant Stadium  Location Paradise. Nevada  Sponsors BetMGM, Henriksen Butler, Desert Ford Dealers, San Manuel Casinos, Aristocrat, MatSing, Modelo  Championships League championships (3) AFL championships (pre-AFL-NFL merger-1) 1967 Super Bowl championships (3) 1976 (XI), 1980 (XV), 1983 (XVIII) Conference championships (4) AFC: 1976, 1980, 1983, 2002 Division championships (15) AFL West: 1967, 1968, 1969 AFC West: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2002  Official Website Las Vegas Raiders- www.raiders.com

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While many know John Madden to be the poster boy of "Madden", not many know the story behind why and how he was chosen.

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How Did John Madden Become the Poster Boy of One of the Biggest Video Games in the World?

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How Did John Madden Become the Poster Boy of One of the Biggest Video Games in the World?

John Madden was not the first choice for “Madden NFL”