Madden NFL 2002 features play now, season, franchise, tournament, create-a-player and create-a-team modes. It also has the Madden Card feature. Along with being a GameCube and Xbox launch title, it was one of the last releases for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. This is the first Madden game to feature the Houston Texans in the team select (although they did not begin play for another year after the game's debut). It was bundled with NBA Live 2002 and NASCAR Thunder 2002 as part of the EA 2002 collector's edition for the PlayStation. Also the game featured the 2002 Expansion Draft where the player can add the 32nd team into the league, but it will force the Seattle Seahawks to move into the NFC (which will occur in the second season of the 30-season Franchise mode).
The Baltimore Ravens had the best team overall in the game with the score of 99. The worst team in the game belongs to the Houston Texans with the score of 39. The best offense in the game belongs to the St. Louis Rams with the score of 96. The best defense in the game belongs to the Baltimore Ravens with the score of 96. The best special teams in the game belongs to seven different teams (Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos) all with scores of 99.
Also included as an extra is a slightly modified version of John Madden Football 93 for the Sega Genesis in the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions, albeit with an updated roster due to licensing issues.