A great character in the sport of football has passed away.
John Madden, a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and iconic announcer, died abruptly on Tuesday morning, according to the NFL. He was 85 years old at the time.
In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated, "On behalf of the entire NFL family, we express our sympathies to Virginia, Mike, Joe, and their families." "We all remember him as the Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but he was also a loving husband, father, and grandpa."
"Coach loved football more than anyone else. He was a football player. He was a fantastic sounding board for me and a lot of other people. There will never be another John Madden, and we will be eternally grateful to him for everything he accomplished to shape football and the NFL into what they are today."
Madden was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for ten seasons, winning the franchise's first title in Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings. Madden never had a losing season as a head coach from 1969 through 1978, with a 103-32-7 regular-season record. At the age of 42, Madden became the youngest coach in NFL history to surpass the 100-win mark, and he remains the winningest coach in Raiders history. With a winning percentage of.759, he also has the greatest winning % of any NFL head coach (minimum of 10 seasons).
The Raiders released a statement saying, "The Raiders family is extremely saddened by the loss of the renowned John Madden." "Few people had a greater influence on the growth and popularity of professional football than Coach Madden, who had an incalculable impact on the game both on and off the field."
As a coach, Madden was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
"The whole Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns Coach Madden's loss," stated Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "On so many levels, few, if any, have had as much of an influence on the sport of professional football as Coach Madden. First and foremost, he was a coach. On the field, in the broadcast booth, and in life, he served as a coach.
"Millions of football fans all around the world adored him."
Madden left coaching following the 1979 season, but it was his broadcasting career that led to his incomparable influence on the sport.
Madden's voice has been associated with football for many generations, having served as a color commentator on NFL broadcasts from 1979 to 2008. Madden, a 16-time Emmy winner, is most known for calling games with Pat Summerall and Al Michaels throughout his legendary broadcasting career. He worked 11 Super Bowls as an analyst until retiring in April 2009 after his last call in Super Bowl XLIII.
With the Madden NFL video game series, which debuted in 1988, Madden's voice, demeanor, and knowledge of the game were brought to life. Madden was the cover model for the video game until 2001 when NFL players began a pattern of gracing the cover every year. Today's NFL players, particularly those who grew up playing the computer game, see being on the cover as a huge honor. The Madden NFL franchise has sold over 250 million copies worldwide, according to Electronic Arts.
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