John Madden, the NFL coach, broadcaster and namesake for the billion-dollar video game franchise, died unexpectedly Tuesday. He was 85 years old.
The legendary coach helmed the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, winning a Super Bowl over the Minnesota Vikings in January 1977. But he became as known for what he did after leaving the game in just his early 40s, when he ascended to the broadcast booth and later lent his name to the most successful sports video game franchise of all time.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and sons Mike and Joe, as well as several grandchildren.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every 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,” Goodell continued. “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 finished his career 103-32 in the regular season and 9-7 in the postseason — the best winning percentage in NFL history with at least 100 games coached. He led the Raiders to a win in Super Bowl XI and five other AFC Championship games. His Raiders lost three times in the playoffs against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Steelers, who won three titles in the ’70s.
Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach, in 2006. In 2002, the Hall of Fame honored him as a broadcaster.
Source – ABC
