Which players at each position would make the 2025 NFC West All-Madden Team?

Please cast your votes at each position for those whom you believe John Madden would pick

I’ve been thinking of John Madden a lot recently. Having had the extremely privileged opportunity to work for the iconic coach and broadcaster and the CBS Electronics team during the summer of 1993, it was the ultimate learning experience for me in terms of understanding three things:

1. The game of football.
2. NFL quality Xs and Os.
3. Recognizing the traits that make certain players a cut above most of the others.

Let me take you back to the afternoon in August where I sat in utter awe at John Madden’s kitchen table on one of the upper stories of the Dakota building in New York City overlooking the upper reaches of Central Park.

Topics of discussion:

1. Coach’s two rings: his Super Bowl ring on one hand and the 100 in diamonds ring that his lovely wife had custom made for him after he became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win 100 games. John Madden was married to three entities: (a) his wife; (b) the game of football; (c) winning.
2. Coach’s philosophy of always installing the most sophisticated new plays during the first couple of days of training camp —- “because I figured those were the days when the players’ minds were the freshest.”
3. Coach’s offensive philosophy of attacking the weak side of defenses.
4. Coach’s favorite player while coaching the Raiders —- to hear him rave about this player for nearly 20 minutes was one of the most compelling inside look as to the mental and physical fortitude that makes certain players so spectacularly special.

ROTB Challenge Part I: if you can identify John Madden’s most favorite player while he was coaching the Raiders, then you will receive this reward:

ROTB Challenge Part II: put on your John Madden coaching outfit and headphones and vote for the player at each position that you believe he would name to his 2025 NFC West All-Madden Team:

Based on the conversations I had with Coach Madden, I think I have a pretty good idea which players he would favor and why. After your votes are registered, I will make the case at each position.

This challenge has nothing to do with Madden Football ratings.

For the ROTB member who matches the most polls with my guesses as to how John Madden would vote, he gets rewarded with this classic “Turducken” t-shirt: (Note: in the comments section you need to list your votes)

How many Cardinals this year do you think John Madden would select heading into the season?