EA Sports first approached Mahomes about appearing on the cover at the Pro BowlEA SPORTS
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will be on the cover of EA Sports' "Madden 20" video game, becoming the "third-youngest player" to grace the cover behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Michael Vick, according to Aaron Dodson of THE UNDEFEATED. Mahomes said EA first approached him about being on the cover while he was at this year's Pro Bowl. The game is set to be released on Aug. 2 (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 4/25). In K.C., Brooke Pryor reports notes Mahomes "inspired and contributed to the development of a new mode in the game: 'Face of the Franchise: QB1.'" In the new mode, users can "assume the identity of a quarterback and take him through a journey beginning with the College Football Playoff and ending with the ultimate goal of becoming a franchise quarterback." Mahomes' status as the NFL's "poster boy has been building" since his breakout '18 season, as he has "formed partnerships and endorsements with some of the most recognizable brands in the country, including Oakley and Essentia water." Mahomes also "launched his own charitable foundation -- 15 and the Mahomies" -- and "put out a merchandise line with a personalized logo on his website." The Madden cover "further cemented" Mahomes' star turn. The NFL under new CMO Tim Ellis is "stepping up its marketing of its top athletes, pushing individual brands to help drive team engagement." While the league "doesn't decide who appears on the cover" of the game, Mahomes being on the cover will "help accomplish the NFL's goal of using personal brands to drive consumers toward fandom of the NFL and specific teams" (K.C. STAR, 4/26).
