There are several ways one can etch their name or image into the minds of NFL fans around the world, and John Madden developed nearly all of them during his illustrious career in the league. As a coach and commentator, his larger-than-life personality and stature made him everything to everyone who ever watched a football game. For more than five decades, John Madden graced the living rooms of football lovers in one way or another, representing the NFL with passion and integrity with every passing season.
John Earl Madden was born in Minnesota, but grew up in California, his family moving there when he was still a child. He played football in high school and was considered a natural talent by his coaches and fans. He then went on to play for various colleges, moving from Oregon to the University of San Mateo before settling down at Cal Poly, where he played both offense and defense. In 1958, Madden was selected in the NFL Draft with the 244th overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, but suffered a career-ending knee injury during training camp and, as a result, never played a single game. played in the NFL.
Training was the next best angle, as John’s love for the game was insatiable. He began his career as an assistant coach at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California, before being promoted to the head coaching position in 1962. At the end of the 1963 season, Madden became a defensive assistant at San Diego State, where he would remain. until the end. 1966. 1967 rang in his taste for the big time when he became the Linebackers Coach for the Oakland Raiders, who reached the Super Bowl that season, but lost to the Green Bay Packers.
The following season, John Madden became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders at the tender age of 32, the youngest person to hold the position at the time. Over the next seven seasons, the Raiders would reach the AFC title game five times, all losing efforts. He began to suffer from what critics called the “inability to win the big game” syndrome. In 1976, however, Madden would silence his critics with a 13-1 record and two playoff wins to reach Super Bowl XI, where they would comfortably beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14. The next two years weren’t nearly as glorious, as the Raiders lost the AFC Championship in 1977 and, failing to make the playoffs in 1978, Madden retired from the bench altogether.
Beginning in 1979, John Madden would find himself in the booth as color commentator and analyst for NFL games, where he would remain until 2008. In 1981 he would join Pat Summerall to call games in an energetic tandem that was exciting to watch. and even more fun to listen to. The duo called eight Super Bowl games together, and countless playoff and regular-season games, to the delight of all who witnessed their partnership. Madden’s popularity skyrocketed and the networks took notice, as he was the first commentator to work for each of the Big Four: ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. With 30 years on the books outside of training and from the comfort of the cockpit, Madden announced his retirement in 2009.
Football would remain a part of his friendly and easily excitable character, thanks to the popular Madden NFL video game that bears his name, likeness, and real voice. The video game debuted in 1988 and has gained popularity with the release of each new season’s edition. His 103-32-7 regular season and 9-7 playoff records as an NFL coach rank his winning percentage second all-time in the league, making him an icon in the world of football. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Not bad for a guy who’s afraid of flying, and who enjoyed his Thanksgiving duty to award the game-winning team he called with a “Turducken”. — turkey, chicken and duck all in one. It won’t soon be forgotten how he would unceremoniously rip the leg off of the strange bird concoction and carry it to the team captain like it was the Lombardi Trophy. Madden was a character that has entertained generations of NFL fans over the years, and for that we should be thankful.