John Madden: An American Football Coach and Sportscaster die he was 85

 John Madden: An American Football Coach and Sportscaster die he was 85

John Madden was a legendary figure in American football, having made an indelible mark on the sport as a coach, commentator, and video game developer. Let's take a closer look at his remarkable career and achievements.

Madden began his career as a coach with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) in 1969. He would go on to lead the team for ten seasons, guiding them to a championship in Super Bowl XI in

1977. Incredibly, Madden never had a losing season as a coach, and his overall win percentage is second in NFL history.

After retiring from coaching, Madden transitioned to broadcasting, where he served as a color commentator for NFL telecasts until 2009. He won an astounding 16 Sports Emmy Awards, making him one of the most decorated broadcasters in sports history. Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, cementing his place as one of the most influential figures in the sport.

Madden's impact on the sport extended beyond his coaching and broadcasting work. From 1988, he lent his name, expertise, and color commentary to the John Madden Football (later Madden NFL) video game series. The game became a cultural phenomenon and has since sold over 130 million copies worldwide. Madden's name has become synonymous with the video game series, which remains one of the most popular sports games of all time.

Madden's influence on football was so significant that he was inducted as a broadcaster on all four of the major American television networks: CBS (1979–1993), Fox (1994–2001), ABC (2002–2005), and NBC (2006–2008). He was the first sportscaster to have worked for all of the "Big Four" U.S. broadcast television networks. Madden had a 476-weekend streak of consecutive broadcast appearances, an incredible feat that speaks to his dedication and longevity in the industry.

Despite his success, Madden remained down-to-earth and approachable throughout his life

. He famously traveled by bus to avoid flying and called his final game, Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009, between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Madden announced his official retirement from the broadcasting booth on April 16, 2009, after which Chris Collinsworth succeeded him.

John Earl Madden passed away on December 28, 2021, at the age of 85. His contributions to the sport of football are immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of fans and players for years to come.