Why is Barry Sanders not in Madden 25? All we know so far

Following the worldwide release of Madden 25 on Friday, fans have been curious to learn whether Barry Sanders was in the EA Sports video game. Sanders played 10 seasons in the NFL as a running back with the Detroit Lions before retiring in July 1999.

Notably, Sanders will not be in Madden NFL 25 since he discontinued his relationship with EA Sports earlier this year, in April. The Pro Football Hall of Famer announced that he was not allowing EA Sports to use his name and likeness via a post on social media.

"Hey @EASPORTS_MUT @EASPORTS @EAMaddenNFL gamers & fans.... Breaking News. I have decided after many years to discontinue my relationship with the brand & the products. I apologize for those that were expecting me in the games. I leave you with #CyberBarry @Lions @NFL @NFLPA," Sanders posted on X.

Sanders did not reveal why he pulled out from licensing his name with the game developer. However, the news was quite a surprise for many, since the Lions legend had graced the cover of Madden in 2013, which marked the 25th anniversary edition of the video game.

Unfortunately for fans of Madden 25, Sanders will no longer be available for selection in the game.

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A glimpse into Barry Sanders' NFL career and honors

Former Detroit Lions RB Barry Sanders (Credits: IMAGN)

The Detroit Lions selected Barry Sanders with the third pick in the 1989 NFL draft. He hit the ground running in the big league and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sanders recorded 15,269 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns on 3,062 attempts. He also posted 2,921 receiving yards on 352 receptions and caught 10 touchdowns across 153 regular season games.

Sanders earned Pro Bowl honors in each year in the big league. He led the league in rushing yards for four seasons and earned six First-Team All-Pro selections.

Along with being named a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, Sanders was co-awarded the MVP in 1997, sharing the honor with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.