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Madden NFL’s Franchise mode attracts players seeking the long-term challenge of rebuilding struggling teams through drafting, trading, and player development. The mode offers sustained progression and accomplishment that appeals to those focused on organizational improvement rather than quick victories.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson shares this approach to the game. When discussing his Madden gameplay with reporters, Johnson revealed that he gravitates toward the same style of team-building that defines his professional role.
“I always liked taking the bad teams and doing Franchise mode and try to build them up from there,” Johnson said on Friday.
#Bears HC Ben Johnson was asked in he played Madden growing up:
“I always liked taking the bad teams and doing Franchise mode and try to build them up from there.”
One of us. pic.twitter.com/oEezCSyvo6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 21, 2025
Johnson took over the Chicago Bears, a franchise that has not appeared in the playoffs since 2020 and has not won a postseason game since 2010. The organization faced significant questions heading into the season, but through Week 12, the Bears have compiled a 7-3 record and control the NFC North division standings.
Quarterback Caleb Williams has been instrumental in the Bears’ offense’s transformation, and his continued performance will help determine whether the team can sustain this trajectory through their remaining schedule. The Madden Franchise mode pulls players into those same real-life challenges.
You’re constantly juggling tough calls—drafting the right guys, weighing trades, and stretching the salary cap to revive a struggling roster. And as you move through it, the mode pushes you to think like an actual front office, mixing strategy with a growing storyline. You can take over a team strapped for cash or one built around rising young talent.
With the 2025 edition, the management details run even deeper, capturing the grind of long-term roster building and the wild twists that come with chasing success. In a way, it mirrors the uphill climb Johnson is facing in Chicago, making every decision feel even more real.
NEXT: Ben Johnson Reveals Thoughts On Bears Rookie’s Increased Playing Time
