Madden 25 Controls Guide

Madden 25 Game Footage

Madden 25 Game Footage

There is nothing more important than mastering the Madden 25 controls, especially for players who are extremely competitive and want to win every game they play.

Knowing the ins and outs of these controls will give players a big advantage over their opponents, be it the CPU or real players. It will help users win a lot of games in Franchise mode, and showcase their skills on Ultimate Team.

Madden 25 Controls

There are two control categories in Madden 25, and just like in College Football 25, they are defense and offense, with both being equally important.

Madden 25 Game Footage
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Inside defense and offense, we have sub-categories, that make it easier for players to search for the controls of a specific mechanic in the game. Some of these sub-categories are passing, defensive coverage, blocking, and ballcarrier, among many others.

To have success on Madden 25, especially in online modes, it's crucial to master all of these controls, and this guide was crafted to help players with that.

Madden 25 Offense Controls

It's impossible to win games without scoring points, and that's why the Madden 25 offense controls are incredibly important to learn, and of course, master.

There are a total of five sub-categories in the offense controls, which are ball carrier, passing, preplay, and ball-in-the-air, and users will need to master all of them to become an offensive genius and dominate opposing defenses.

Madden 25 Gameplay Deep Dive Footage
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These controls will have an impact on all the Madden 25 game modes, and a good understanding of them can be the difference between a win or a loss, a Super Bowl title or a disappointing finals loss, an incredible late game win in Ultimate Team or a soul-crushing defeat.

Ballcarrier Controls

Madden 25 Ballcarrier Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Play Celebration
LT + RT + A
L2 + R2 + X
Pitch
LB
L1
Sprint
RT
R2
Protect Ball
RB
R1
Hurdle
Y
Slide (QB)
Tap X
Tap ◻
Give Up
Tap X
Tap ◻
Dive
Hold X
Hold X
Spin
B
O
Stiff Arm
A
X
Truck
Right stick Up
Right stick Up
Dead Leg
Right stick down
Right stick down
Juke
Flick right stick Left and Right
Flick right stick Left and Right
Spin
Rotate right stick
Rotate right stick
Play Celebration
Hold RT + LT + A
Hold R2 + L2 + X

For players who like to run the football, learning the ballcarrier controls is essential, as it will take their running game to a new level.

Be it with a running back, or a quarterback, it's crucial users know how to protect the ball when carrying it, use the juke or spin to create separation from opponents, throw the ball laterally for an open teammate, and of course celebrate after a big play.

Passing Controls

Madden 25 Passing Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Free Form on Placement
LT
L2
High Pass Modifier
LB
L1
Scramble
Left Stick + RT
Left Stick + R2
Reiceiver 5
RB
R1
Receiver 4
Y
Receiver 3
x
Receiver 2
B
O
Receiver 1
A
X
Playmaker
Right Stick
Right Stick
Throw Ball Away
Right Stick (press)
R3
Pump Fake
Double Tap Receiver Icon
Double Tap Receiver Icon

While knowing how to run the football is very important, so is passing, as it offers users a plethora of offensive options.

A perfect pass can completely dismantle a defense, allowing the receiver to win many yards, and even reach the end zone, or secure that very important first down, to keep the drive alive.

Passing is one of the biggest weapons Madden 25 players can have in their arsenal, so becoming a master at it will come in handy in many situations.

Preplay Offense Controls

Madden 25 Preplay Offense Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Show Play Art
LT
L2
Pass Protection
LB
L1
X-Factor Vision
RT
R2
Fake Snap
RB
R1
Hot Route
Y
Audible
X
Switch Player
B
O
Snap Ball
A
X
Pre-Play Menu
Press RS
R3
Call Timeout
Share
Select
Motion Player
LS Left or Right (Hold)
LS Left or Right (Hold)
Player Lock
Double Press LS
Double Press L3
Zoom Out Camera
D-pad up
D-pad up
Zoom In Camera
D-pad down
D-pad down

Football is like chess, and users need to move their pieces in a way that gets them closer to a checkmate.

Pre-play allows players to adapt their offensive strategy after analyzing the opponent's defense, by changing the receiver routes, asking for pass protection to their offensive line, trying a fake snap to catch the defense off-guard and force a penalty, and calling an audible, changing the play call completely.

Preplay is an extremely important feature to master, as it will allow players to quickly adapt to the opponent's strategy pre-snap.

Ball in Air Controls

Madden 25 Ball in Air Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Sprint
RT
R2
Strafe
LT
L2
Defensive Assist
LB
L1
Agressive Catch (Offense)
Y
Ball Hawk (Defense)
Y
Rac (Offense)
X
Swat (Defense)
X
Siwtch Player
B
O
Possession Catch (Offense)
A
X
Play Receiver
A
X

Despite being one sub-category of the offense controls, the Ball in Air controls are also used on defense.

These controls are very useful, as they let players choose which type of catch they want their receivers to perform, such as a normal possession catch, or an aggressive catch.

At the same time, users can also use these controls on defense, to swat the ball, switch the player they are controlling, or even get an important interception.

Madden 25 Defense Controls

Perhaps even more important than being able to score a plethora of points, is preventing opponents from doing the same, as this will make players' task of securing wins much easier, and also less stressful.

Madden 25 Pre-Snap
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Similar to the offense controls, there are also sub-categories in the defense controls, and these are preplay, defensive engaged, defensive pursuit, defensive coverage, blocking, and player locker receiver.

As the saying goes, defense wins championships, so mastering these controls is something every player must do.

Preplay Defense Controls

Madden 25 Preplay Defense Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Show Play Art
LT
L2
X-Factor Vision
RT
R2
Defensive Keys
RB
R1
Coverage Audible
Y
Audible
X
Switch Player
B
O
Def Hot Route
A
X
Pre-Play Menu
RS
R3
Call Timeout
View
Select
Player Lock
Ls (press two times)
L3 (press two times)
Zoom in Camera (Up)
D pad up button
D pad up button
Defensive Line (Left)
D pad left button
D pad left button
Linebackers (right)
D pad right button
D pad right button
Zoom out Camera (down)
D pad down button
D pad down button

These controls allow players to quickly change their defensive strategy pre-snap, answering the changes made by the offense in real-time. Just like the offense can change routes, and call audibles, so can the defense.

Users can also change the position of their players, adjust the defensive line or linebackers, ask players to press, or even disguise the coverage, which can catch many users off guard.

Defensive Engaged Controls

Madden 25 Defensive Engaged Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Contain
LT
L2
Speed Rush
RT
R2
Swat
Y
Switch Player
B
O
Rip
Right Stick up
Right Stick up
Bull Rush
Right Stick up and down
Right Stick up and down
Club/Swim
Right Stick left and right
Right Stick left and right

These controls are used after the snap when users are only controlling a single player, and they allow players to speed rush to tackle an opponent or cover a passing lane, swat a ball in the middle of the air, and switch to a different player.

They are easier controls to master, but that doesn't mean they aren't as important as the rest of the defensive controls.

Defensive Pursuit Controls

Madden 25 Defensive Pursuit Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Strafe
LT
L2
Defensive Assist
LB
L1
Sprint
RT
R2
Strip Ball
RB
R1
Dive Tackle
X
Switch Player
B
O
Breakdown Tackle
A
X
Hit Stick
Right Stick up
Right Stick up
Cut Stick
Right Stick down
Right Stick down
Blow-Up Blocker
Right Stick flick
Right Stick flick

Tackling players, forcing fumbles, stopping ballcarriers, these controls allow users to do just that.

Some are easier to master than others, such as the dive tackler, or the breakdown tackle, but the hardest ones to learn, hit and cut stick, are the strongest this year, and if well performed, can stop players right in their track and also cause a lot of fumbles.

Defensive Coverage Controls

Madden 25 Defensive Coverage Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Strafe
LT
L2
Defensive Assist
LB
L1
Switch Player
B
O
Player Movement
Left Stick
Left Stick
Press/Chuck Receiver
A + Left Stick
X + Left Stick

The Defensive Coverage controls allow users to move players, pre-snap or after it, change their positions on the field, block passing routes, tackle ballcarriers, assist other defensive players, and pressure receivers so that they can't make a successful catch.

Blocking Controls

Madden 25 Blocking Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Controls
PS4 / PS5
Player Movement/Block on Collision
Left Stick
Left Stick
Switch Player
B
O
Agressive Impact Block
Right Stick Up
Right Stick Up
Agressive Cut Block
Right Stick down
Right Stick down

Blocking is a big part of the defense, as it can prevent players from gaining yards, and users can also use it to get past the opponent's offensive line and reach the quarterback, forcing a sack or a fumble.

This puts a lot of pressure on the offense and makes it harder for the quarterback to read the defense.

Player Locker Receiver Controls

Madden 25 Player Locker Receiver Controls
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Credit: EA Sports
Command
Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S Control
PS4 / PS5
Individual Play-Art
LT
L2
Just-go Release
RT
R2
Player Lock
Left Stick (press two times)
Left Stick (press two times)
Route Running/Move Player
Left Stick
Left Stick
Conservative Change-up Release
A
X
On The Line Change Up
Right Stick flick
Right Stick flick
On The Line Foot Fire
Right Stick flick hold
Right Stick flick hold
Off The Line Cut Out of Press
Right Stick flick
Right Stick flick

These controls allow users to control a single defensive player, having full control of that player, while the AI controls the rest of the defense. However, players can opt out of player lock whenever they want.

This is a great feature if a user wants to lockdown an opposing star receiver, as it can use player lock to only control the defender that is attributed to that receiver.

Here is everything users need to know about the Madden 25 controls to master them and become unbeatable in the field.

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