Legendary NFL Coach, Broadcaster Madden Retires
Eight Highlights of John Madden’s 50-Year Football Career
© Ray Cox
Apr 16, 2009
“There is one thing football fans have agreed on for decades: they all love John Madden. … He had an incredible talent for explaining the game in an unpretentious way that made it more understandable and fun,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
1. Youngest Coach in Either NFL or AFL When Hired
Highlight: Madden signed a $7,000 contract to play with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1959 season after they had drafted him in the 21st round, No. 244 overall, but he never played a regular-season down because of a knee injury. He learned a lot of football watching game film with Hall of Fame quarterback Norm Van Brocklin while rehabbing with the Eagles. He coached at Hancock Junior College in California and San Diego State before joining the Oakland Raiders in 1967. After John Rauch left following the 1968 season, Al Davis promoted Madden, the youngest head coach in either league at 32.
2. On the Sideline Opposite the Legendary Vince Lombardi
Highlight: In Madden’s first season as linebackers coach with the Raiders, Oakland made it to Super Bowl II. Madden later recalled how thrilled he was on the sideline opposite Vince Lombardi. It was a historical moment as Lombardi was carried off the field after coaching his final game with the Packers and winning Super Bowl II.
3. Surpassing Lombardi for Highest Winning Percentage by a Coach
Highlight: Madden stayed at the helm of the Raiders through the 1978 season. The Raiders won Super Bowl XI in 1977 and he finished his career with a 103-32-7 record, the highest winning percentage of any coach, just edging the great Lombardi. No coach reached 100 victories at an earlier age in the modern era.
4. Three Times the Raiders Fell Short in Dramatic Moments
Highlight: Madden’s teams lost five AFC title games in seven seasons, several in dramatic moments. In 1969, the Raiders lost in the final AFL title game and posted a 12-1-1 record. In 1972, they were the foil for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the “Immaculate Reception” game, a stunning last-minute loss on the road. Two years after that, the Raiders won in an improbable rally against the two-time defending champ Miami Dolphins, only to lose the next week to the Steelers again in the AFC title game.
5. Imagine Madden Blocking the Plate
Highlight: He played college football at the College of San Mateo and then at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a lineman on both sides of the ball. He also was a catcher on the Cal Poly SLO baseball team.
6. Success Follows Madden from Field to Broadcast Booth
Highlight: As soon as he retired, Madden joined CBS and broadcast NFL games with Pat Summerall for 21 seasons, winning 16 Emmy awards. He switched to Fox when CBS gave up the NFL rights, to ABC for Monday Night Football in 2002 and to NBC for Sunday Night Football in 2006.
7. Legend Now for Two Reasons: Hall of Fame, Madden NFL game
Highlight: As a coach he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. He also has his name on a sports video game that is the top seller of all-time.
8. A Champion Who Leaves on Top of the Game
Highlight: Madden’s final telecast was the Steelers’ Super Bowl victory against the Cardinals in February.
