John Madden’s son Mike on his involvement in It’s in the Game: Madden NFL and preserving his father’s legacy

It’s in the Game: Madden NFL, the decades-spanning story of the people that brought us the hit video game series Madden NFL, landed on Prime Video last month and has served as one of the most complete tellings put to screen about the history of the video game to date. However, as much as it’s a loveable homage to the development of technology and the groundbreaking things the team at EA Sports have accomplished over the years, it’s also about how the game started with one man: John Madden. Passing in December 2021, Madden left behind an incredible legacy but also a wonderful family who continue to work to protect the name that heads the video game. We spoke with Mike Madden, John Madden’s son, about his involvement in It’s in the Game: Madden NFL, what makes the game so special, and preserving his father’s legacy.  Video Games on Sports Illustrated: How did the project come by you? Did someone reach out to you and pitch the idea? Also, were you immediately open to it? As much as it’s about the video game, it