EA partners with the NFL to inspire the next generation through STEAM

As the global spotlight turns to Super Bowl week, EA SPORTS is proud to have joined in the NFL Inspire Change Super Bowl STEAM Celebration to help spark curiosity and creativity among future creators, technologists, and innovators.

Together with the NFL, Microsoft Copilot, the Players Coalition, and five local nonprofit organizations, we gave 100 students  hands-on learning experiences that connect sports, technology, and creativity.

“Our partnership with leading nonprofits and local students here in the Bay during Super Bowl week, reflects our commitment to making a lasting impact. Because at EA SPORTS, we believe play is a language that inspires future creators, problem-solvers, and leaders.”

Bringing sports passion and STEAM skills to life

At EA SPORTS, we believe sport has the power to connect and to inspire, and when a student's love of football combines with STEAM, these next-gen skills come to life and open doors to careers that are creative, innovative, and within reach. At the event, we gave students a special behind-the scenes experience on how games like EA SPORTS Madden NFL are made. From motion capture that transforms real player movement into lifelike animation, to game design and feature creation that explores how data, realism, and player experience come together on the virtual field.

These special interactive activities are designed to connect learning at the intersection of sport, technology and showcase the power of play as a gateway to opportunity to the industry and beyond. 

“Madden NFL sits at the center of football culture, but it’s also more than a game,” says Andrea Hopelain, GM, SVP Publishing, EA SPORTS. “It’s a platform for creativity, social connection and immersive fandom. And where legions of fans are helping us shape how the next generation falls in love with football.

“Our partnership with leading nonprofits and local students here in the Bay during Super Bowl week, reflects our commitment to making a lasting impact. Because at EA SPORTS, we believe play is a language that inspires future creators, problem-solvers, and leaders.”

“It goes beyond the game,” says Clint Oldenburg, Production Director for EA SPORTS American Football. “We can inspire these students. To help them break down barriers and show them there is a pathway to do these things and to have a career in game development, or have a career in science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics.”

“It goes beyond the game. We can inspire these students. To help them break down barriers and show them there is a pathway to do these things and to have a career in game development, or have a career in science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics.”

Building opportunity through play

At EA, we inspire the world to play, creating shared experiences that connect kids, families, and athletes across generations and open a world of possibilities. It’s not just the biggest sports moment. We are committed to investing in the future and unlocking student’s potential year-round through play-based STEAM learning and sport development in, around, and beyond our games.

Together, with our partners around the world, we support game design workshops, community-building coding clubs, digital literacy, creative computing curriculum for teachers, and more. .

“We know how powerful play can be for learning, development, creativity, and inspiration,” says Jaimie Vargas, Senior Director, Head of Global Social Impact at EA. “By integrating play into education, we are bringing STEAM to life on and off the screen, equipping youth with confidence and capabilities to tell their own story, pursue emerging careers, and grow into innovative creators and problem-solvers.”

Looking ahead

As EA continues to lead the future of interactive entertainment, partnerships like this reflect how sports, technology, and creativity can come together to create meaningful impact beyond the game.

From the screen to the field and beyond, we believe in the power of play and sports to open doors and help people build crucial skills that matter in school, their future career, and life.

During Super Bowl week, and throughout the year, we remain committed to empowering youth to play, create, connect, and watch, together.

Check out other amazing EA stories on ea.com/news.