It was announced on Tuesday that John Madden, Hall of Fame Coach and longtime NFL commentator, has passed away at 85 years old. The cause of his death has yet to be confirmed.
Older generations remember his entire journey, dating back to his days as a player. Younger generations remember him as a broadcaster and the video game named in his honor. But no matter how he’s remembered, his influence is undeniable.
The Coach
After a short-lived stint in the NFL as a player, John Madden entered the world of coaching; knee injuries had shortened his career. He spent seven years as a coach in college for Alan Hancock and San Diego State before he got his first professional gig for the Raiders. After spending two seasons as an LB coach in Oakland, Madden was finally named as Raiders Head Coach in 1969.
John Madden was known for his loud, animated coaching style; pacing up and down the sidelines and giving referees a hard time. He was a firecracker, but above all, he was a player’s coach. Madden understood the X’s and O’s, and he also knew how to keep his locker room motivated. Most people who played for John Madden have nothing but good things to say about him: “Players loved playing for him,” said Hall of Fame OL, Art Shell. “He made it fun for us in camp and fun for us in the regular season. All he asked is that we be on time and play like hell when it was time to play.”
The highlight of his coaching career was when the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the 1977 Super Bowl; a win that solidified his legacy after losing in the AFC Championship in five of the previous seven seasons. His ten-year tenure as head coach and his .759 win percentage ranks up there with some of the best coaches in league history. During his Hall of Fame speech in 2006, Madden said that he identifies himself as a coach first before anything else: “People always ask, ‘Are you a coach or a broadcaster or a video game guy?’ I’m a coach, always been a coach.”
The Broadcaster
Shortly after his coaching retirement in 1978, John Madden quickly transitioned to broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for 30 seasons. Whether it was Pat Summerall or Al Michaels, Madden was able to form a strong tandem with whoever he was paired with.
Madden’s energy and enthusiasm for the game of football helped viewers fall in love with the sport he loved so much. His commentary set an extremely high bar for other commentators to follow as well. In his 30-year broadcasting career, John Madden is the only commentator to work for four major networks (CBS, FOX, ABC & NBC).
In the booth, he was known for his silly catchphrases, his enthusiasm for Brett Favre, and his telestrator drawings. Some commentators are too serious and too bland, other commentators are too goofy. John Madden was the perfect blend of informative and fun as a color commentator. He would explain football concepts in a way that even a child could understand; a style that was often imitated, but never duplicated.
The Video Game Guy
Ever since 1988, Madden has been an American staple, both in football and video gaming culture. Since pairing up with EA Sports, John Madden has helped make the game of football understandable for those who played the video game. Despite some less than favorable reviews in some of the more recent years, the Madden franchise has had a long, successful run.
Childhoods have been shaped and friendships have been made over the years, thanks to this video game. Madden’s vision was to make a simulation football game that was equally informative as it was entertaining. For the most part, the game series has done a good job, minus some of the more recent games.
Anyone who has played Madden has their own unique experiences with the game. Franchise modes and tournaments that brought the competitive edge out of those who played. Rosters and ratings that have given us knowledge on players and teams. The Hit Stick in Madden 2005 gave us fun highlights. Madden Cards offered us cheat codes to dominate the competition. And of course, who could forget about the ambulance trucks in Madden ’92.
The game of Madden is a video game that has given us memories that will last forever. It has also helped many people understand the game of football on a deeper level. Hopefully one day, the franchise can put together another video game as memorable as some of previous renditions.
In Conclusion
John Madden is survived by his wife, Virginia Fields, and his two sons, Joseph and Michael. Although he is no longer here physically, his impact will be felt permanently in the world of football. John Madden’s legacy is one that stretches across multiple generations.
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