There is an entire generation that will only recognize the name John Madden from the popular EA Sports video game. However, there is an older generation who will remember the opinionated and outspoken man as the Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and then iconic broadcaster for CBS Sports and Fox Sports. According to a statement from the NFL Earlier Madden died unexpectedly this morning. He was 85.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families. We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
“Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”
Memorial service information will be announced when available.”
Roger Goodell
The Las Vegas Raiders also reacted to the sad news in a statement:
“The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary John Madden,” the Raiders said in a statement. “Few individuals meant as much to the growth and popularity of professional football as Coach Madden, whose impact on the game both on and off the field was immeasurable.”
He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Coach Madden,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement. “Few, if any, have had as great an impact on the sport of professional football on so many different levels as Coach Madden. He was first and foremost a coach. He was a coach on the field, a coach in the broadcast booth and a coach in life. He was dearly loved by millions of football fans worldwide.”
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It’s impossible to list here all of the things Madden did for the game of football and the NFL.
When Raiders owner Al Davis hired Madden to coach the Oakland Raiders in 1969, he was the youngest head coach in pro football at 32. Madden would lead the Raiders led them to a Super Bowl title in 1976 when the team went 13-1. The Raiders went to the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons under Madden. In the postseason, Madden was 9-7 and 103-32-7 in the regular season.
When Coach left the sport at 42, he began his career as an NFL commentator on CBS in 1979 and then Fox. His pairing with broadcaster Pat Summerall was legendary. He also worked for ABC and NBC. Madded served as an analyst for 11 Super Bowls and would go on to win 16 Emmys for his broadcasts.
His “Madden NFL” video game launched in 1988 as “John Madden Football” and has continued to be a popular title ever since. Madden took an active role in the game’s development, always pushing the realism.
In September, the NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life featured John Madden. The one-hour show produced by NFL Films had sitdown interviews with Madden, Raiders Hall of Famers Art Shell and Jim Otto, NBC sports personnel Bob Costas, Dick Ebersol, Fred Gaudelli and Al Michaels, and more.
Rest in Peace, Coach.