EA Sports’ “Madden NFL” franchise is one of the longest-running sports video game franchises in the world, and also among the most popular.
Named after legendary coach John Madden, the game routinely sells millions of copies per year and brings in hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for Electronic Arts.
The game has rotated its voice cast throughout the years, from Madden himself to the modern NFL duo of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis.
In this year’s upcoming version of the game, a new voice will be joining the crew, and “RedZone” fans will feel right at home listening to his commentary.
RedZone’s Scott Hanson Joining “Madden NFL 26” Cast
NFL Network’s “RedZone” show is arguably the most popular way for fans to consume football games during the regular season, and its longtime host, Scott Hanson, has become nearly as renowned as the program itself.
Well, for fans that wish to have Hanson help them navigate their virtual football as he does their real life football, you’re in luck: according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Hanson is joining the “Madden NFL 26” cast.
NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson will be the new in-game voice for EA Sports Madden NFL 26. pic.twitter.com/1NLaO5448v
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 2, 2025
Besides Gaudin and Davis, the game introduced a host of new commentary teams last year. The duo of Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen, as well as Kate Scott and Brock Huard joined the game last year.
Hanson has hosted NFL RedZone since the program’s creation in 2009. He’s actually not guaranteed to return to the show next year, as he’s a free agent at this time. He may not return to NFL Media at all, which would force the network to hire a new host for the time in history.
Even if he doesn’t return, though, he’s become the voice of a generation for NFL fans and fantasy football managers alike. “RedZone” has redefined how fans watch football on Sundays, and Hanson is a big reason for it. He’ll be a welcome addition to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.
Speaking of, the Madden franchise has a lot of work to do to earn back the trust of its fanbase, as recent games have been plagued by buggy performances, content droughts, and pervasive microtransactions.
According to Metacritic, the Madden franchise hasn’t had a critic score of “good quality” (70 or higher out of 100) since Madden 20 (76). Madden 24 (65), Madden 23 (69), Madden 22 (68), and Madden 21 (63) all scored in the 60s, with fan reviews often being lower than 2.0 out of 10.
Nevertheless, fans will be lining up outside the door to play the newest edition of the game, which remains one of the most popular annual franchises of all time. Alongside their reboot of the College Football series, EA has created a stranglehold on the football video game market.