Best Playbooks in Madden 25 for Offense and Defense

There are always some changes each year, but the Madden 25 playbooks saw one of their biggest overhauls in some time. Every year new plays pop up as NFL teams continue to evolve, and that's especially true when new coaches come in with their own unique schemes and strategies to implement.

The extra element at play for Madden 25 playbooks is that College Football 25 just released. That college influence and extra resource no doubt helped in adding new plays and diversifying playbooks, especially when that game had to do so for 134 different FBS schools while the NFL has just 32 teams. From the reliable favorites to unique emerging options, we're going through all the best playbooks in Madden 25.

Best Offensive Playbooks in Madden 25

Starting on the offensive side of the ball, the best playbook for you is going to depend on your preferred style and the weapons at your disposal. Some of the best Madden 25 playbooks are particularly strong at specific styles of play, and they might have specific formations which complement your team's strengths or your own preferences.

The sheer expansion of playbooks and significant changes to several make it particularly hard to decide on a number one option that'll fit every team. With that in mind, we've outlined five different strong options that players might want to wield in Madden 25.

New York Jets

If you're looking for a reliable pick, the Jets playbook was a favorite among Madden 24 playbooks and didn't change too drastically this year. It's still full of good meta plays, some of the best under center and shotgun plays you can utilize, and strong formations like Gun Bunch or Gun Trips TE Offset.

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers playbook is becoming an early favorite in Madden 25 as a Shotgun heavy option that remains decently balanced while keeping top plays. There are tons of Gun Bunch formations to work with as well as some Singleback. You'll also benefit from some 2 RB, 2 TE, and 3 WR formations to keep defenses on their toes.

Miami Dolphins

If you enjoy speed, the Miami Dolphins playbook is an ideal choice in Madden 25. Whether you're looking to hit some jet sweeps or cheat screens, the Dolphins playbook brings in a variety of formations from Shotgun to Pistol to I Form, and it's got some of the best new motion plays to try out.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs playbook is ideal for players looking to dink and dunk their way down the field with chunk plays from the Shotgun, and it has some fantastic under center options to utilize in the red zone. They also added three variations on the beloved corndog play which can be found in Gun Bunch Str Nasty.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts playbook has been a strong option for several years and still boasts plenty of Gun Bunch to work with, but that's not what makes it one of the best playbooks in Madden 25. This the only playbook with Double Post out of Gun Bunch Offset, and many players feel that's one of the best plays in the entire game.

Best Defensive Playbooks in Madden 25

While the best defensive playbook in Madden 25 is still down to playstyle, one big factor to consider is whether you tend to make preplay adjustments. Being able to read offenses and make changes with their decisions in mind can make a huge impact, but some players just wanna run with a stock play and let the players themselves make the adjustments after the ball is snapped.

If you prefer not to make too many pre-snap adjustments, go with the Multiple D playbook in Madden 25. Multiple D is one of the easiest to use playbooks, and it's balanced enough that you should get some variety without having to lean as much on preplay changes. For those who want something a bit more advanced, these are the best defensive playbooks in Madden 25.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs once again have a top defensive playbook that is ideal if you need to control pass coverage, but it's a bit weaker when trying to stop the run at the line of scrimmage. You'll likely lean on 4-3 Even 6-1 and Big Nickel Over G, but you can also get some strong options from Nickel 3-3, Dime Normal, and Quarter Normal.

Cleveland Browns

If you're particularly worried about getting beat on deep balls, the Browns playbook is your best shot on defense. Be careful not to leave things too open for offenses to wear you down with shorter chunk plays, but getting enough pressure and some well-timed blitzes can also help you force turnovers.

Atlanta Falcons

The final choice here is hard to go with because the Falcons, Cardinals, and Eagles all have fairly similar defensive playbook, but we're going with the Falcons. Some great formations to focus on include 3-3-5 Penny and 4-3 Even 6-1, but don't overlook Nickel 2-4 Dbl Mug which has worked great this year in both Madden 25 and College Football 25.

If you're unsure which playbook will fit you best on offense or defense, spend some time in Practice Mode or Play Now with that particular team looking through some of the plays at your disposal and how they're executed. Don't be afraid to make a switch if needed in Madden 25 Franchise Mode, but you generally want to know your playbook fairly early as it can alter some of your free agency and draft strategies.