Peter King on his best John Madden story, Mount Rushmore of Influential NFL figures | FTF
Peter King joins Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes to discuss his new book "The Game", his personal Mount Rushmore of influential NFL personalities, and his favorite memories of John Madden. Plus, John Smoltz also joins to preview the World Series ...
Brace yourselves, folks. It's almost here.
We've waited all year for it. We suffered through the long, hot summer months. We stayed patient, and focused, and determined. In a few short days, the calendar turns to November, and it'll be here.
The holiday season? Nope! Thanksgiving? Nope again! Not even close. Something even better ...
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The highly-anticipated John Madden movie, with Nicolas Cage starring as the late Hall of Fame coach/broadcaster, is set to release in theaters on Nov. 11!
Nicolas Cage attends the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening night on Sept. 19, 2026, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Getty Images)
That's right.
If you've ever wondered how John Madden went from football coach, to broadcaster, to creator of the biggest video game series of all time, you're gonna find out in about two weeks.
And for those who can't wait even that long, here's a little taste of what to expect:
I'm just not seeing it
Whoaaaaaaaaaaaa Nellie!
Thoughts? First impressions? I'm gonna level with everyone here ... that's just an awful John Madden impression. I'm not sure we can even call it an impression? I think it's just Nicolas Cage ... talking like Nicolas Cage?
It's jarring to watch, really.
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John Madden poses with his bust at the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006. (NFL)
If you had me close my eyes and gave me a thousand guesses at who that was speaking, I would never land on John Madden. Ever. I'd say it was Nicolas Cage ... because it sounds like Nicolas Cage.
Hardcore NFL fans, naturally, are burying this movie before it even gets off the ground:
This is an embarrassment to his legacy.
That seems to be the overriding theme on social media today in response to the above trailer. Folks are not thrilled with what they see — or hear — and they're worried John Madden's legacy will be hurt by this.
That's a little dramatic, if you ask me. Let's not be silly. But, it certainly won't improve Madden's legacy with the younger generations that didn't grow up with him.
Cage revealed he turned down roles in "Spider-Man" and "Dumb and Dumber" for roles in two Academy Award-nominated movies. (Eric Charbonneau/Roadside Attractions via Getty Images)
The question I have is ... why? Why didn't Nicolas Cage even bother trying to sound like Madden? There's just no effort there at all. I don't get it?
John Madden's voice is iconic. It's what my generation grew up with. My dad knows Madden as the coach. I know him as the man in the booth talking turkey and football on Thanksgiving.
NFL'S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE THAT FEATURES FIVE GAMES IS DEFINITELY NO TURKEY
And it was the best:
You see? THAT's the John Madden I knew. Man, he was the best. The whole world grew up in the late-90s and early-2000s making Turduckens on Thanksgiving, and it was absolutely because of John Madden.
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What a wonderful time to be alive. I miss those days so much. We'll never get them back.
Anyway, Madden premieres on Nov. 11.
Enjoy!
