SALEM, OR - Tomorrow's Madden NFL 26 update brings a wide range of improvements, tweaks, and fixes across gameplay, presentation, and all major game modes. Whether you've been frustrated by blocking bugs, route exploits, or odd visual glitches-this patch tackles many of those issues. Below is the full breakdown of what's changing, so you know exactly what to expect.


Changes & Fixes

Gameplay

Pass Blocking

  • New Coaching Adjustment added: you can now set your default pass protection scheme (options: Base, Empty, Half Left, Full Left, Half Right, Full Right, or Default).

  • You will still be able to change protection pre-play via the Pass Protection adjustments menu, even if you set a default.

  • Fixed an issue where the pass protection adjustment menu could get stuck open.

  • Improved blocking logic for better targeting and protection on Shotgun Play Action plays.

  • Shortened the wait time after failed pass rush moves to make pocket degradation more realistic.

  • Enhanced QB Contain logic: defenders will now contain more consistently. There were fixes so that defenders no longer abandon contain assignments in favor of pass rush moves, and disengaging from blocks is handled more accurately.

  • Pass rush move selection logic has been tuned to reduce overuse of "Rip" moves and make behavior more aligned with defender ratings.

Run Game

  • Eliminated a short, artificial speed boost when using Truck in open space ("Air Truck"). Animations and transitions have been adjusted so speed reflects realistic motion.

  • Fixed instances of Duo run plays being mislabeled as Inside Zone plays.

  • Reduced how often defenders do "power non-engaged sheds" on run plays.

  • Added shed timers for defenders who lost their previous defensive move on passing plays.

  • Edge defenders now hold toward their outside gap for longer, helping to set the edge more reliably on run plays.

Passing Game

  • Minimum for "stemmed down" routes increased from 1 yard to 3 yards, to reduce overpowered stem-route abuses (especially on corner routes).

  • Resolved issue where auto-motion receivers would continue motion during the "Quiet the Crowd" animation. Quiet the Crowd can no longer be triggered during auto-motion.

  • Fixed behind-the-line special moves not working when using Gadget players at QB in Wildcat formations.

  • Fixed wide receivers doing fake-out footwork off the snap even when no defender is nearby.

  • Improved catch-knockout behavior: receivers covered by multiple defenders are more likely to have the catch knocked out rather than hang on unrealistically long.

  • Fixed illegal man-downfield penalties being triggered incorrectly on certain play-action boot plays.

  • Fixed no-look passing animations being triggered sometimes on quick throws like bubble screens.

Pass Coverage

  • New Coaching Adjustment: set safety depth at 16 yards.

  • Hook-defender depth with "underneath coverage" adjustment updated to around 5 yards, which helps defend short drag-type routes.

  • Hook-defender depth with "over-the-top" coverage adjustment updated to about 12-18 yards to better counter intermediate and deeper routes like deep digs and overs.

  • Vertical-hook zone logic adjusted so it will not match when using coaching adjustments or custom stem zones.

  • Press-animation logic updated to ensure defenders trigger press animations at the line of scrimmage when the user requests them.

  • Fixed an issue in Goal Line defense where a receiver in heavy-personnel formations could be completely uncovered.

Pre-Play Controls

  • Offense can no longer instantly flip the play or audible to a new formation when walking to the line from the huddle.

  • Hot route timer standardized across all QBs when breaking the huddle. Stemming a route now counts as a hot route when breaking the huddle. Signature animations (e.g., players like Mahomes) now respond more consistently.

  • Fixed issue preventing under-center QBs from queuing more than two hot routes at a time.

  • Fixed awkward TE motion issues on certain play sequences within Gun Y Off Trips Wk plays (Mtn Y Corner, RPO Alert Mtn Dive, Mtn Shock H Opt).

  • Hot-route stem controls now properly appear when using mouse & keyboard on PC.

  • Improved avoidance logic by WRs in motion at the snap.

AI & Game Logic

  • Tuned Bills Homefield Advantage to reduce excessive kick-meter wobble.

  • Improved AI clock management: AI teams are less likely to call timeouts right before punting when losing by large margins.

  • Fixed crash happening when setting QB Throw Style.

  • Resolved issue where online roster players might appear with generic models or incorrect uniform numbers (e.g., duplicates of #11 or #22).

Animation & Visuals

  • Adjusted hit stick animations for "Small Agile Backs" to make them more realistic and grounded.

  • Fixed defenders warping back to their feet mid-lunge during tackles.

  • Fixed late hurdle attempts causing missed tackles incorrectly.

  • Fixed Josh Allen using incorrect ball-carry style ("bread loaf") on read option plays.

Playbooks

  • Fixed ball warp issues on specific handoffs in Pistol formations.

  • Fixed ball warp when cancelling handoff on PA Sprint HB Flat plays.

  • Fixed fumble when snapping the ball in Gun Bunch TE Str MTN RPO Peak Flats.

  • Fixed rare issue of the snap occurring well behind the QB in certain Pistol and Gun Jet Sweep plays.

  • Fixed unnatural speed boost on the In-Corner route in the Gun Bunch Offset Close Mesh Rebound formation that made it unbalanced.

Presentation

  • Broadcast packages: fixed missing stats in Last Week Stats banner after bye week; fixed Stat Leaders banner for passing yards disappearing too quickly; fixed Draft Class banner not appearing during Sunday Night Primetime.

  • NFL Traditions: fixed camera issue for the Cardinals' Big Red Siren tradition.

  • Halftime Show / Weekly Recap: fixed missing highlights when resuming game; fixed score inconsistencies between in‐game highlight and subsequent Around the League banner; lighting pop fixes at end of highlights; improved logic to avoid showing losing teams or weird long runs by non-scrambling QBs in highlights; fixed cases where right-handed QBs appeared to throw left-handed TDs.

  • Pregame: fixed out-of-focus camera for the Falcon statue; fixed fog sometimes obstructing mascots; fixed camera obstructions and clipping issues with sideline characters.

  • Drive Starter / Drive Summary / Post-Play: fixed broken camera when showing wide receiver stat leaders; fixed Drive Starter appearing before Drive Summary when a turnover occurs in Superstar: The League; fixed instances of players appearing on wrong sideline; fixed camera lingering too long after completing a MUT challenge.

Franchise Mode

  • Fixed players being out of position; the issue was tied to the now-removed Progressive Fatigue setting. That has been replaced with Wear and Tear Management.

  • Fixed Nose Tackle archetype overall (OVR) formula mis-calculations. For new leagues the fix applies immediately; for existing leagues it applies immediately but corrected OVRs will show after the next week advance.

  • Fixed wrong body types being used by certain draft generators. (Existing leagues won't see changes until the next draft class is generated.)

  • Fixed importing/exporting draft classes that were incorrectly altering player body types. (Existing draft classes won't be retroactively corrected.)

  • Resolved issue where Tight Ends were able to acquire the Universal Coverage Zone Ability.

  • Fixed Low Back Strain injury being treated as career-ending.

  • Fixed ordering issues: coaches and trainers unlocking abilities in wrong order; depth chart reorder was prioritizing WILL position over SAM position incorrectly.

  • Dev note: there is an ongoing issue when a Head Coach leaves a league. The CPU auto-promotes a coordinator to Head Coach without hiring someone to fill the now-vacant coordinator role. This will be addressed in a future update.

Superstar Mode

  • Fixed issue where Season stats were not accessible.

  • Adjusted QB Combine drills.

  • Resolved problem where selected gear would appear on the wrong uniform.

Ultimate Team (MUT)

Field Pass, Progression & Rewards

  • Fixed objectives not appearing in Field Pass & Team Pass tabs.

  • Resolved several soft-lock issues when purchasing Premium Field Pass or entering rewards screens.

  • Fixed visual bug: Season 1 Field Pass art replacing Season 2 while Season 2 is active.

  • Reward icons and token/coin rewards now display consistently across New Items Flow and Rewards Flow.

Lineups & Team Management

  • Corrected inflated overall (OVR) values for punters and kickers when placed at QB.

  • Fixed chemistry and strategy boosts not displaying correctly; lineup synergies are now working properly.

  • Improved substitution logic and lineup refresh behavior to avoid roster management errors.

Store & Packs

  • Restored the "Open Next Pack" callout in reward flows, improving speed of pack-opening.

  • Fixed issue where packs inside other rewards were sometimes not visible.

  • Pack Helper logic tuned to avoid recommending removing useful players, and prioritize helpful lineup improvements.

Challenges, Events & H2H

  • Fixed blockers in Gauntlet Events that prevented progress being tracked correctly.

  • Fixed bug in H2H Seasons where winning the Super Bowl did not end Season as intended.

  • Leaderboards now display correctly; empty or undefined rank values have been fixed.

  • Corrected star reward tracking in Legendary Challenge packs so that rewards are given properly.

Stability & Disconnects

  • Fixed multiple soft locks in new user experiences, Field Pass purchases, and Preseason Events.

  • Addressed crashes when loading into Squads crossplay sessions with multiple PC players.

  • Corrected disconnects during ready-up transitions in H2H and Squads lobbies.

  • Resolved desyncs in 6v6 and Sick Six modes.

Audio & Gear / Art / Likeness Updates

Closing

This update makes some long-requested improvements across the board, especially around pass protection, coverage depths, and balancing route mechanics. If you've been frustrated with some of the exploit-style plays or visual glitches, these fixes should help smooth things out. As always, keep paying attention after the update - there may be minor tweaks or hotfixes coming based on feedback. Let us know what you notice once you've had a chance to play, and we'll keep you posted on future updates.

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