Madden 26 Franchise Mode Shifts Game-Planning Focus To The Coaches

Coach DNA was one of the big features announced for Madden 26. Coaches will have their styles infused into the game. For example, Campbell and the Detroit Lions will be more aggressive on fourth down. What does this mean for Franchise Mode? When you are preparing for your next matchup, you’ll have to figure out how to out-coach you’re opponent on the opposite sideline wearing the headset. They’ve even gone as far as to have players make in-game adjustments to try and out-smart their opponent. The official announcement described how this works.

We’re also introducing a new metagame with Coach Abilities in Madden NFL 26. You can now check out the scouting report and customize your gameplan against your opponent each week. Coach Abilities are also more than just a menu item, they can trigger via in-game scenarios. For example, one ability could “Increase your Offensive Tackles’ success chance against Power Moves.” Leveling up your coach gets you access to more abilities. And of course, CPU teams will be able to take advantage of these gameplans as well, gameplanning against you!

This is a cool change to Madden 26. While playing the Minnesota Vikings means having to stop Justin Jefferson, it also means having to outsmart Kevin O’Connell, which is a fun way to get a more immersive experience.

More Additions

There are some other additions to Franchise Mode coming to the next installment of the game. Scott Hanson from NFL Red Zone will make his first appearance in the game, doing halftime shows and weekly recaps. Games on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays will have a different feel with custom broadcast packages.

The other element coming to Madden 26 is something College Football 25 players will be familiar with. Wear and Tear will be coming to the NFL game this year. No longer can you ride one player for an entire game. You’ll have to manage your players to make sure they do not get injured and that they are fresh in critical moments.

Final Thoughts

I’m interested to see how the coaching metagame does. It is an interesting idea, but one that I hope isn’t an annoyance in the game rather than something that immerses players deeper into the experience. I do applaud EA Sports for trying something new and bringing the personalities of coaches into the fold.