When it comes to celebrating greatness on the gridiron, few honors carry as much weight as being inducted into Madden’s coveted 99 Club. This year, two of the NFL’s brightest stars, the Ravens’ very own Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, joined this elite group in Madden 25, earning the highest possible rating in the iconic football game. To commemorate their achievements, EA Sports enlisted renowned sneaker and cleat customizer Dan "Mache" Gamache to create one-of-a-kind cleats for the occasion.
Sole Retriever was fortunate enough to sit down and chat with Mache about his career, the work that went into creating these cleats for the Ravens’ stars, and more.
For those who may not know Mache, he has spent over 20 years redefining what’s possible in the world of custom sneakers and cleats. His journey to the position he’s in today, having worked with legends in the NBA like LeBron James and consistently on the shortlist for a number of sports stars, is nothing short of remarkable. Reflecting on his beginnings, he shared, “I would have never thought living in my mom's trailer, painting shoes 20-some odd years ago, that that's what I would be doing now. It’s a whirlwind.” His story is one of passion, persistence, and an innate ability to transform footwear into meaningful works of art.
His nickname and online handle, “Mache,” stems from his college baseball days, a shortened version of his last name, Gamache, which stuck with him as his reputation grew. He explains, “There were four Dans on the baseball team, so we went by last names. Gamache got shortened to Mache, and it stuck for the last 30 years.”
Mache’s artistic talent, combined with his athletic background, has given him a unique edge in the industry. His work not only captures the personalities of the athletes he collaborates with but also balances functionality with artistic flair. Over the years, his client list has grown to include some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, from NFL stars to pop culture icons. He reflected on his evolution, saying, “When you’re getting Mike Tyson and Stone Cold and Obama and Jay-Z, that’s a list that, again, a kid in the trailer park wasn’t envisioning working with.”
While Mache has taken on more high-profile projects and clients over the years, he remains selective about the work he does today. “It’s the power of being able to say no,” he said, emphasizing he has earned the ability to be selective and only take on projects he personally feels a passion for.
Images via EA Sports
Collaborating with EA Sports to celebrate Madden 25’s 99 Club, Mache was tasked with creating cleats for Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. For Mache, this project was an opportunity to blend his creative expertise with the legacy of Madden. As he put it, “Madden’s an institution… the fact that all the players, they really value that Madden rating—that's a big deal.” Last year, Mache was also tasked by EA Sports to create custom cleats for Justin Jefferson in celebration of the Vikings star achieving a 99 overall rating.
The journey from concept to completion wasn’t without its challenges. The project began with discussions a month prior, but the cleats didn’t arrive in Mache’s hands until just a week before they were due. Despite the tight timeline, Mache embraced the challenge. “I live in the fourth quarter with two minutes,” Mache said. He completed the two pairs of cleats in just three days.
Mache’s designs were tailored to reflect the personalities and achievements of Henry and Jackson. For Derrick Henry, the cleats incorporated “King Henry” motifs, including regal crowns and an Old English font on the sock liner to emphasize his larger-than-life presence on the field.
Lamar Jackson’s pair took a more understated approach, featuring gold 99 Club motifs, a signature on the inner toe, and a hand-painted purple marble effect on the swooshes. “I wanted to make it a cleaner pair for him,” Mache explained, noting that Lamar typically keeps things understated when he’s on the field.
One of the standout features of Derrick Henry's cleats was the use of gold leaf, a material Mache had never worked with before. “It was harder leading into it than the actual process,” he admitted, adding that he had to turn to YouTube tutorials to perfect the application. The result, however, was worth the effort, with the gold swooshes shining brilliantly against the purple accents—a fitting tribute to entering the illustrious 99 Club.
For Mache, the magic of his work lies in seeing his creations leave the workshop and take center stage. Reflecting on the significance of the project, he shared, “It never gets old seeing guys wear your stuff, especially when two days ago you’re in the shop doing it, and then you see it in front of 70,000 people.”
While Mache, EA Sports, and the Ravens organization were in on the creation of the cleats, both Henry and Jackson had no idea this was taking place. In fact, the two had no idea they had reached 99 overall in Madden 25, joining an elite group of players to have amassed a perfect rating.
In celebration of @Ravens teammates @Lj_era8 and @KingHenry_2 being named to the @EAMaddenNFL 99 Club, they were surprised with 1-of-1 custom cleats by @MACHE275 🏆
During a practice session on Wednesday, December 11, the Ravens offensive line surprised both Lamar and Derrick with the pairs. Lamar's first reaction: "Imma have to wear them in a game." Prior to the duo's reaction, Mache spoke with us about seeing athletes receiving their pairs, stating, “It’s the reactions that make it all worth it."
Over the years, custom sneakers and cleats have evolved to become a part of the mainstream conversation in sneakers, largely thanks to creators like Mache. Seeing the growing recognition of custom footwear, Mache reflected on the evolution of the custom sneaker space, stating, “When I started, it was just a handful of us painting shoes for fun on forums like ISS (InStyleShoes) and NikeTalk. Now, it’s grown into something where we’re working with brands and athletes to connect with audiences in meaningful ways.”
While his custom cleats have garnered plenty of attention, Mache shows no signs of slowing down. His creative pipeline is filled with exciting ventures, including upcoming releases from his independent footwear brand. “We dropped our first golf shoe a couple of months ago, and the reception was great,” he shared, with his brand prepping to drop a new colorway of the Promenade golf shoe before Christmas.
Beyond golf, Mache continues to balance his weekly cleat projects for NFL players while exploring opportunities for new collaborations. As he puts it, “I wish there were more of me and more time, but that’s part of the challenge I thrive on.” In between creating these cleats for Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, he prepped a set of AE 1-inspired custom cleats for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison.
With another set of Madden 25 99 Club cleats part of his impressive portfolio, Mache’s journey as a customizer remains one of constant evolution. As he balances his ever-expanding creative projects, Mache’s work serves as a reminder that the story behind the design is just as important as the final product. Where his journey will take him next is anyone’s guess—but knowing Mache, it’s certain to be bold, boundary-breaking, and unforgettable.
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Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
