John Madden: Profession retrospective | Yardbarker

John Madden was born in Austin, Minnesota, and raised in Daly Metropolis, California. The Madden household got here from a middle-class background. As a child, Madden met his lifelong greatest buddy, John Robinson, who would change into a tremendous coach in his personal proper. Madden attended Jefferson Excessive College, taking part in lights-out as an offensive sort out. When his highschool profession was all mentioned and achieved, Madden attended the College of Oregon on a soccer scholarship.

Madden was pursuing pre-law as a student-athlete with the Oregon Geese earlier than a knee damage took him away from the sector. Madden transferred to California Polytechnic State College, the place he excelled in offense and protection. He earned All-Convention honors as an offensive sort out at Cal Poly and even had a stint on the baseball workforce as a catcher. Sadly, his senior season was lower brief due to a collarbone damage. Nonetheless, he merited the eye of the NFL.

Madden graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science in 1959 and a Grasp of Arts in training in 1961.

Regardless of a knee damage at Oregon and a collarbone damage at Cal Poly, Madden was nonetheless seen as a strong prospect. The 6-foot-4 offensive sort out was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles within the twenty first spherical of the 1958 NFL Draft. The decision to the NFL got here simply months earlier than his senior yr. After ending his senior yr and taking part in within the All-American Bowl in January 1959, Madden was heading to the massive leagues.

Madden was excited for his first coaching camp with the Philadelphia Eagles when tragedy struck. A knee damage throughout a scrimmage at apply ended his taking part in profession earlier than he had an opportunity to change into a star with the Eagles. Madden managed to make the most effective of the scenario. He spent the remainder of the season watching recreation movie with Corridor of Fame quarterback Norm Van Brocklin. This time additionally helped Madden determine what he wished to do with the remainder of his life.

As soon as his taking part in profession was all however over, Madden returned to Cal Poly and enrolled of their Grasp’s Diploma program for training, graduating in 1961. In want of a job to help his spouse and youngsters, Madden searched endlessly for a job and located his method to a training gig.

Madden made his teaching debut in 1960 as an assistant coach with Allan Hancock Faculty, a group school based mostly in California. He grew to become the top coach in 1962, main the workforce to a 12-6 file. He had his greatest season in 1963 when his workforce posted an 8-1 file. He didn’t keep at Allan Hancock Faculty for lengthy.

Decided to climb the teaching ladder, Madden left the group school soccer scene and took a job as defensive coordinator for San Diego State in 1964. The pinnacle coach on the time was Don Coryell, who would change into a head coach with the San Diego Chargers, the place he led the cost for the Air Coryell offense, a pass-happy assault that dominated within the Seventies and adjusted NFL offenses eternally. Coryell’s steerage was instrumental within the growth of Madden as a coach. On the sector, Madden’s defenses swarmed their opponents.

Oakland Raiders proprietor Al Davis was tipped off by a buddy a couple of younger, up-and-coming defensive coach at San Diego State. Upon assembly Madden, he was impressed by his soccer know-how and provided him a job because the linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders. Madden took the job simply outdoors his hometown of Daly Metropolis, California. On this position, Madden helped the Raiders get to Tremendous Bowl II, the place they misplaced to the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Vince Lombardi, one in every of Madden’s idols.

In 1969, the Oakland Raiders wanted a head coach. Madden interviewed for the place and got here out of the workplace as the brand new head coach of the Raiders. At 32 years outdated, Madden grew to become the youngest head coach of his time.

Madden led the Raiders to a 12-1-1 file. They misplaced within the AFL Championship to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Not dangerous on your first season as a head coach within the NFL.

The Raiders have been one of many premier groups in 1972, trouncing their method to a 10-3-1 file. They’d the third-highest-scoring offense within the league and have been poised for a Tremendous Bowl run. That’s till they bumped into the Pittsburgh Steelers within the Divisional Spherical. Holding the lead heading into the sport’s last moments, the Raiders wanted one final cease to drag out the win. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw an errant cross that was damaged up, and it flew within the air and landed within the arms of Franco Harris, who took the pigskin to the home for the game-winning landing.  The Immaculate Reception went down as one of the iconic moments in playoff historical past.

From 1973-75, the Raiders went to a few AFC Championship Video games in a row, dropping all of them. These heartbreaking playoff losses haunted the Raiders. Off the sector, Madden confronted criticism from media and followers alike that he couldn’t win the Huge Sport. The next season would silence any doubters.

The Oakland Raiders have been decided to win a Tremendous Bowl for his or her coach after the humbling defeats in years prior. The Raiders switched to a 3-4 protection earlier than the 1976 season and continued their offensive prowess. They got here out swinging to a 13-1 file and crushed the New England Patriots within the playoffs. They lastly beat the Steelers within the playoffs en path to their first Tremendous Bowl berth. The victory was a vindicating second for the Raiders. However there wasn’t an excessive amount of time to have a good time — that they had a Tremendous Bowl to win.

At Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, the Oakland Raiders equipped for a showdown in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings on soccer’s greatest stage. From the opening kickoff to the ultimate whistle, the Raiders dominated Tremendous Bowl XI, successful the competition 32-14. Madden had lastly pieced the whole lot he had realized over time collectively. The Oakland Raiders have been Tremendous Bowl champions!

The Raiders virtually went to the Tremendous Bowl once more the next yr. Sadly, they misplaced to the Denver Broncos within the AFC Championship Sport. Madden introduced his retirement from skilled soccer after the 1979 season. Simply three years after his Tremendous Bowl victory, Madden determined it was time. He cited well being issues attributable to an ulcer situation and the stress and eventual burnout attributable to his job. Madden gave the sport his all.

If Madden did one factor as a coach, it was win. In his 10 years as head coach of the Raiders, Madden by no means had a dropping season. He grew to become the youngest coach to win 100 video games at 42 years outdated (103-32-7 file). He holds the very best successful share of all time at .750%. Because the Raiders’ all-time chief in wins, he led them to seven division titles and 7 AFC Championship Sport appearances. What makes this so spectacular is that he achieved all of this whereas teaching in opposition to legends Tom Landry, Don Shula, Chuck Noll, and Bud Grant. To prime all of it off, he received a Tremendous Bowl ring.

As a coach, Madden had solely three guidelines: “Be on time, listen and play like hell after I let you know to.” The Raiders purchased in. Over the course of his profession, Madden used his academic background to get the most effective out of his gamers. He did so with a really down-to-Earth strategy to the sport. As an alternative of worrying about costume codes and the principles, Madden was extra involved with the gamers being themselves and mastering the Xs and Os. He grew to become an amazing motivator and participant’s coach, typically pushing his gamers to be their greatest.

Madden coached the likes of Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, Artwork Shell, Ken Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, and Dave Casper, to call just a few. These have been nice gamers with edgy personalities. They have been the outlaws of the NFL, and Madden did an amazing job at managing them. All in all, Madden was an ideal match for the Oakland Raiders.

After retiring, he vowed by no means to educate one other workforce once more.

In search of one thing to do after his teaching profession was over, Madden acquired a proposal from CBS to change into a sports activities announcer. He was hesitant at first. He didn’t like the thought of calling video games from an announcer’s sales space. Madden ultimately gave in and took the deal in 1979.

Madden was a pure within the sales space. He made the soccer recreation come alive along with his commentary. Madden took an everyman strategy to saying. He used his background as a trainer and coach and tried to elucidate what was happening within the recreation in a easy method to the viewers at residence. He talked loud and quick and sometimes used interjections like “growth” and “bang” to get his level throughout. It didn’t take lengthy earlier than his saying model grew to become a success with NFL followers.

In 1981, Madden met his career-long buddy in saying: Pat Summerall. The Madden-Summerall duo was the best in sports activities from their first recreation to their final. They labored collectively for many years and known as eight Tremendous Bowls collectively. John Madden and Pat Summerall grew to become an ideal combo. Whereas Madden went on to work with different announcers, equivalent to Al Michaels, he had the most effective chemistry with Summerall.

Madden received 16 Emmy Awards in his saying profession. It was a testomony to his pure expertise on the commerce. When Madden spoke, you ran to the TV and listened.

Madden’s stellar profession as a sports activities commentator quickly made him the voice of soccer. Within the do-or-die moments of the largest video games, Madden was up there within the sales space, making the decision. He was a real particular person, and it confirmed in his work. Within the Nineteen Nineties, Madden was on the prime of his recreation. He made extra money as an announcer than most gamers within the league.

Madden’s concern of flying is not any secret. He was vocal about it most of his life. The Cal Poly soccer workforce airplane crash of 1960 was a devastating tragedy for Madden, who misplaced many buddies from the crash. In 1979, Madden had a panic assault on a flight and promised himself he’d by no means fly once more if he ever received off the airplane. He made good on this promise, citing that his concern of flying stemmed from claustrophobia.  

Madden, as an announcer, needed to get to NFL video games in some way. At first, he traveled by practice. This modified in 1987 when Greyhound Strains constructed him his personal bus. From then on, Madden drove to each recreation he coated. It grew to become often called the Madden Cruiser. This behemoth of a automobile was state-of-the-art for its time, providing a coastal and splendid experience. Madden used it to journey throughout America for the remainder of his saying profession. 

Madden by no means introduced a Professional Bowl his total profession. For the reason that Professional Bowl was held in Honolulu, Hawaii every year, Madden was not capable of get there. 

Enjoyable reality: the unique Madden Cruiser is within the Corridor of Fame.

In 1988, Digital Arts and EA Sports activities provided Madden a proposition to assist the corporate create a soccer online game. Madden took the provide. On the time, he barely knew what video video games have been. He gave EA Sports activities his title, picture, and likeness (NIL) alongside along with his inventive enter. He noticed this as a possibility to coach followers. He additionally voiced the in-game commentary and labored exhausting to make the sport as lifelike as doable. The sequence was first often called the John Madden Soccer Sequence and would later be identified merely as Madden.

Madden grew to become one of many best-selling video video games of all time. Followers line up on the discharge date to cop a recent version of the long-lasting online game. Madden appeared on the primary 11 Madden covers. Since then, it is change into an annual honor for the NFL participant chosen to grace the quilt of Madden. The sport is as common as ever. Following Madden’s loss of life in December 2021, he was positioned on the quilt of Madden NFL 23.

This may increasingly shock you, however Madden needed to wait many years earlier than he acquired a name from the Corridor of Fame. In 2006, after a very long time coming, that decision got here. Madden was as excited as you’d anticipate. The distinction was effectively deserved. His Corridor of Fame bust sits amongst different greats within the halls of Canton, because it ought to.

Apart from broadcasting and his online game’s international success, Madden made many popular culture appearances. He starred in motion pictures equivalent to Little Giants and The Replacements. He additionally had a cameo in The Simpsons. He stole the present when he hosted Saturday Night time Stay in 1982. He appeared as himself in U2’s music video “Caught In A Second You Can’t Get Out Of” and in Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.” He even grew to become a best-selling writer. 

Possibly Madden is greatest identified for his endorsements. He starred in commercials for quite a few corporations over time. In a lot of them, he’d slam by a paper wall and provides a hearty performing efficiency. His most notable commercials have been for Miller Lite. 

In all of those roles, Madden let his lovable character shine whereas representing the sport he was so obsessed with.

Madden introduced his final recreation on February 1, 2009. It was Tremendous Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. For 30 years, Madden was the most effective announcer in sports activities. Madden grew to become the one sports activities announcer to work for the “Huge 4” broadcasting corporations: CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC.

Only some individuals get to say they do what they love. Madden received to do it his total life. He had three nice careers in soccer: a Tremendous Bowl-winning coach with the Oakland Raiders, an Emmy Award-winning announcer, and the namesake of the Madden online game franchise. Nonetheless you wish to splice it up, Madden meant one thing to soccer followers of all ages. What a life!

Madden left his mark on the sport of soccer.

Within the recreation itself, Madden’s Raiders have been among the many first groups to carry mini-camps and movie apply. He additionally helped the unfold offense achieve respect as a member of Don Coryell’s teaching tree and thru the Madden video video games. He nonetheless holds the most effective successful share amongst head coaches to today. 

In broadcasting, he helped popularize the telestrator. Thanksgiving Day soccer was at all times an American custom. John Madden revolutionized the custom by awarding the successful groups with a turkey and bringing his trademark persona to the announcer’s sales space throughout the many Thanksgiving video games he known as. 

All through his profession, he made saying enjoyable in comparison with the simple fits that dominated the sales space earlier than his time. He was the primary announcer to brighten up the sport and have become simply as massive as the sport itself. He modified how we view the expertise of watching soccer.

You possibly can’t speak concerning the all-timers in video video games with out mentioning Madden. Among the best-selling video games of all time, Madden has given NFL followers pleasure for a few years and can proceed doing so.

On December 28, 2021, John Madden died peacefully in his Pleasanton, California residence. He was 85. His loss of life got here days after a documentary known as All Madden about his life aired on Christmas Day. EA Sports activities honored the late coach by placing him on the quilt of Madden 23. 

The person merely often called Madden is tremendously missed. As the sport he was obsessed with grew in recognition, so did his stature. His life and legacy have been soccer. And eternally might be.