The life and times of late NFL legend John Madden are heading to a television near you in the future.
A limited series about the accomplished coach and broadcaster is on the way from filmmaker Gavin O’Connor and executive producer/newly retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
While you can guess what Brady brings to the table, O’Connor has plenty of experience telling sports-based stories, having directed the Disney hockey drama Miracle, the MMA drama Warrior and the Ben Affleck-led basketball drama The Way Back.
While a broadcasting home and casting have yet to be finalized, Brady spoke to why he’s so engaged with working on the project (via Deadline).
“I grew up admiring John Madden, first as a coach, then as a commentator. I loved John’s passion for the game, especially his insatiable appetite for educating audiences about football. He welcomed fans with that warm smile, infectious laugh, and exceptional knowledge of the game, making everyone feel as if John were watching the broadcast right next to them on their living room sofa.”
The major question now is who will play Madden in the project?
Whether it’s Oakland Raiders-era Madden or Monday Night Football-era Madden, we’ve got some ideas for who might lead the project.
1
Jesse Plemons
Our favorite casting idea we could come up with for Madden in his Raiders coaching days is Plemons, one of the best actors working in Hollywood.
The Oscar-nominated actor and Friday Night Lights alum has experience on prestige T.V. (Fargo) and looks close enough like Madden from his Oakland heyday. It’d be a home-run hire for the production team.
2
Paul Walter Hauser
The recent Golden Globe winner turned heads with his villainous turn on the AppleTV+ miniseries Black Bird and would, like Plemons, be an awesome match for Madden.
Having earned praise for portraying falsely accused Atlanta Olympics bomber Richard Jewell for Clint Eastwood in 2019, Hauser knows how to bring a real-life figure to life. If Plemons isn’t available, call Hauser.
3
Seth Rogen
Okay, while Rogen might not be your first choice, he would actually be a fascinating pick to play the legendary coach toward the end of his career in Oakland.
Having proved his dramatic abilities with 2022’s The Fabelmans and 2015’s Steve Jobs, Rogen could be a deeply qualified, high-profile name to attach to the project.
4
John Goodman
If we’re going for Madden later in his life when he’s fully entrenched as a broadcasting superstar, John Goodman is our favorite pick to play the part.
He’s got the vocal range to bring Madden’s signature commentary to life. Having recently taken T.V. roles with The Righteous Gemstones and The Conners, Goodman would be a fantastic person to portray Madden.
5
Brian Cox
If he needs a break from playing a Roy on Succession, perhaps veteran actor Brian Cox would be down for playing a latter-career Madden.
Cox has the range to pull Madden off, and his unpredictable personality on-screen could the performance and give us a Madden for the ages. Like Goodman, his voice is just perfect for the part, too.
6
Stephen Root
Like Rogen, Root is our surprise pick for an older Madden.
The Barry co-star has been one of the most reliable character actors in Hollywood for decades, having popped up in projects like Office Space, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, O Brother, Where Art Thou and Get Out.
Root might need to whiten his hair with the make-up team, but he would just soar with the part if given a chance.
