Brett Favre

Lore & Background

Favre's narrative in Madden NFL 09 is defined by his fluctuating roster status and the unique solutions developers employed to accommodate his real-life comeback. Although he appeared on the standard cover wearing a Green Bay Packers uniform, EA Sports did not reissue the physical packaging for all consoles. Instead, they released a free alternative cover of Favre in a Jets uniform for download and printing from their website starting August 7, 2008, the same day as the trade. Initially, this downloadable option was unavailable for Nintendo DS and Wii, which utilized alternate covers by default; however, on September 15, 2008, EA released a specific cover shot of Favre as a Jet for the Wii version. The Xbox 360 did not have an alternate cover by default, and the downloadable cover was available for it. Inside the game, Favre's availability varied significantly by platform: he was a playable character in every version except the Nintendo DS. On the Wii, PlayStation Portable (PSP), and PlayStation 2 editions, he did not appear on the active New York Jets roster but was instead placed on the historic 2007 Packers team. Players could manually transfer him to the free agent pool and sign him to any of the 32 NFL teams for the 2008 season. Conversely, a specific roster update released on August 12, 2008, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions immediately placed Favre on the New York Jets as their starting quarterback.

In Their Own Story

The release window of Madden NFL 09 was marked by an unprecedented real-world drama involving its cover star. On April 23, 2008, David Letterman revealed that former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre would be the face of the game. At that time, Favre had retired, making him a historic first as a non-active cover athlete. The situation intensified when, just five days before the North American launch on August 12, 2008, Favre officially came out of retirement and was traded to the New York Jets. This sudden change meant the standard packaging, which depicted Favre in his iconic Packers uniform, was released alongside a digital solution rather than a physical repress for most platforms. EA Sports made an alternative cover available online, allowing fans to print a version showing Favre as a Jet. While the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions received an August 12 update placing him on the Jets roster instantly, owners of the Wii, PSP, and PS2 editions found him locked on the 2007 Packers historic team until they moved him to free agency. The Nintendo DS version notably excluded Favre entirely from being a playable character.

Reader's Guide

Navigating Brett Favre's presence in Madden NFL 09 requires understanding the platform-specific differences in his roster availability and cover art. For PS3 and Xbox 360 players, a roster update released on August 12, 2008, automatically added Favre to the New York Jets as the starting quarterback. If you are playing on Wii, PSP, or PS2, Favre will not appear on the Jets initially; instead, look for him on the 2007 Packers historic team. From there, you can transfer him to the free agent roster and sign him to any of the 32 teams for the 2008 season. For Nintendo DS owners, be aware that Favre is not a playable character in this version at all. Regarding the cover art, if you own a standard edition on Xbox, Wii, or DS, the box will feature Favre in his Packers uniform. If you have PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, or PS2, you can download and print a free Jets-themed alternative cover from the EA Sports website to match your game's internal roster. The Spanish version of the game features Roberto Garza on the cover instead.

Did You Know?

• Brett Favre was the first non-active player to be announced as a Madden cover athlete.
• The standard game cover features Favre in a Green Bay Packers uniform, despite his trade to the New York Jets just five days before release.
• Favre is not a playable character in the Nintendo DS version of Madden NFL 09.
• EA Sports released a free downloadable alternative cover showing Favre in a Jets uniform for most platforms on August 7, 2008, the same day as the trade.
• On Wii, PSP, and PS2 versions, Favre is initially found on the historic 2007 Packers team rather than the active Jets roster.