NFL legend John Madden unexpectedly passed away Tuesday morning. The Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster and video game creator was 85 years old.
"On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "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."
Madden compiled a .759 winning percentage as the Raiders coach, the highest percentage in league history among coaches that have won 100 games. During his 10 seasons as the Raiders head coach, Madden led Oakland to the playoffs eight times. The Raiders appeared in seven AFC title games under Madden that included five straight from 1973-77. And after falling short in his first five AFC title games, Madden and the Raiders finally broke through in 1976.
After a 13-1 regular season, the Raiders dethroned the Steelers -- the team that defeated Oakland in the previous two AFC title games -- to punch their first ticket to the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XI, the Raiders dominated the Vikings behind a punishing rushing attack and equally devastating defense. Oakland received an MVP performance from Fred Biletnikoff, who set up three of the Raiders' four offensive touchdowns. The Raiders won 32-14, and Madden and the Raiders were champions for the first time.
"They can never take it away from you," Madden said of his Super Bowl win. "Maybe the fact that we chased it so long made it bigger to us. It was the greatest feeling in the world. There's nothing that can beat it."
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
He was my favorite also... He wanted to see grass hanging off their face mask or blood somewhere or they weren't playing hard enough. Real football times !
I used to love watching those teams when I was a kid, with Daryle Lamonica and Ken Stabler, with a young Madden sweating on the sidelines with the most intense look on his face going up against the likes of Hank Stram and Chuck Knoll. Those were great times. RIP.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
He helped to shape not only NFL coaching, but also broadcasting style, a pro insider's color during games... and was one of the first of his generation to launch into corporate commercials:
Some gamers gonna pour out a cold one for him, as well. Never dipped into the EA/Madden franchise, but even I was able to see what a juggernaut it was.
Anyone else remember John Madden on the air quoting, I believe a coach's pre-game or halftime speech saying, "Don't worry about the horse being blind, just loan the wagon".
Loved his color analysis and he appears a lot in an old Showtime documentary about the AFL's ten-year history. I have watched that several times on YouTube.
I never considered myself a big John Madden fan. I found him to be a rather odd and quirky fellow. But I did find him entertaining. He certainly knew how to coach and I found his commentating to be more humorous than anything else even when giving good insight. He then managed to team up with EA sports to bring his name front and center with an entirely new generation to keep his name relative to many who would otherwise never known of him.
I certainly think he had a life well lived. He accomplished a goal most people can only dream of. And I'm not speaking about his accomplishments as a player, a coach, a commentator or anything else. I'm talking about this statement he made about his life.
“If you think about it, I’ve never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster. I haven’t worked a day in my life.”
He had a life where during his entire career he worked in a profession that was his passion. His job wasn't his work, it was what he loved. That's a full and happy life by anyone's standard. His name is known by people from 12 to 82 and beyond. Something very few people can say.
RIP John Madden
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Anyone else remember John Madden on the air quoting, I believe a coach's pre-game or halftime speech saying, "Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon".
Loved his color analysis and he appears a lot in an old Showtime documentary about the AFL's ten-year history. I have watched that several times on YouTube.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
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