How to fair catch in Madden 25 – our complete guide

✓ At A Glance

• When a kicked ball is in the air, call for a fair catch with Y on Xbox or Triangle on PlayStation.

Madden 25 features something that other iterations do not: a brand-new kick-off system. The NFL has completely revamped its kickoff rules, giving a lot more opportunity for a return. It’s still possible to make a fair catch, and punting hasn’t changed. There are still opportunities to do this, but it’s very different from older Madden games. Here’s what you need to know, including how to fair catch and when to pull it out for the most success.

How to fair catch

The controls to make a fair catch are still the same. When the ball is in the air, you need to switch to the person receiving the kick. New kickoff rules allow for two deep returners, and we have found that the person you default to is not the one who catches it. So be sure to switch and then press Y on Xbox or Triangle on PlayStation to call for a fair catch. There’s still just one punt returner who can make the catch, so you shouldn’t have to switch players for that.

When to fair catch in Madden 25

The only thing that changes in Madden 25 regarding fair catches is when to call for them. When you’re being punted to, the situation is exactly the same. If the defenders are close to you and can make an immediate tackle when you’re about to catch the ball, call for a fair catch or your player might go backward or lose the football and cause a turnover. It’s purely up to you if you want to try a return in that situation.

On kickoff plays, it’s different. New rules state that no team can move until the return man catches the ball, so you will catch the ball between the goalline and the 20-yard line and have some space to get an even better field position. That was the intent of the rule change, but fair catches are still possible. If called for, it will result in a virtual touchback, as the ball is placed at the 25-yard-line. However, most kick returns get further than that, so a fair catch might not be useful here.

Other than that, there are no scenarios that a fair catch can be called. They’re only applicable to kicks that are changing possessions, and they don’t have much of an advantage. They are the safer option in certain situations, but there’s no real reason to try them when it’s possible to run it back.