One of the top-selling video games of all time will alter its real-time gameplay and add a controversial quarterback-turned-activist to its character rotation.
Madden NFL 21 welcomed back Colin Kaepernick to its roster availability on Tuesday, announcing that the quarterback best known for his social activism will appear in the game for the first time since 2016.
“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback,” read a tweet from Madden NFL 21. “The team at EA SPORTS, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game.”
— Madden NFL 21 (@EAMaddenNFL) September 8, 2020
EA Sports, the makers of the Madden franchise, have given Kaepernick an 81-point rating that makes him a higher in-game value than half of the league’s starting quarterbacks. The quarterback, who has failed to sign with any NFL team in over three years, is ranked on par with Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“Starting today in Madden NFL 21, fans can put Colin Kaepernick at the helm of any NFL team in Franchise mode, as well as play with him in Play Now,” the statement added. “We look forward to seeing Colin on Madden NFL teams everywhere.”
Although the Madden gaming franchise has always offered unique opportunities for players to create in-game content, Kaepernick’s inclusion in spite of his failure to appear on an NFL roster is a first for the game.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback set off a yearslong movement of players demonstrating for social justice after he chose to kneel during the national anthem.
