When the NFL approved the new kickoff rules, it was a philosophical shift for special teams coaches everywhere. It was also uncharted ground for the Madden football game developers at EA. So Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin naturally had questions for the development team.
That turned into a partnership between Tomlin and EA where he provided nuanced answers to the developers’ questions while in turn receiving the ability to simulate the new style of kickoffs. NFL.com’s Nick Shook took a deep dive into the partnership between NFL head coach and Madden developers, and Tomlin himself weighed in.