John Madden is one of the most iconic figures in NFL history. His legacy stretches far beyond the video game which carries his name to this day.
Madden fulfilled numerous roles throughout his life, often directly influencing NFL odds through his head-coaching prowess and respected punditry.
An offensive linemen and a catcher in college, Madden never made his NFL debut as a player despite going in the 21st round of the 1958 Draft.
Instead, he turned his attention to coaching, becoming Hancock’s offensive line coach in 1961 to begin an almost two-decade-long career.
Born three years before the start of the Second World War, Madden saw the evolution of football. The game he was first involved with is a far cry from the glitzy world of the NFL in the 2020s.
Net Worth
John Madden was worth around £150 million at the time of his death in 2021.
His coaching career will not have been massively lucrative, given that he hung up the clipboard in 1978, but it’s no secret Madden was paid handsomely during his career as a broadcaster.
His voice was the soundtrack to the NFL season. Even long before the widespread legalisation of sports betting in the USA, the money in commentary was significant. Between 2002 and 2005, for instance, Madden was reportedly on over £3 million per year with ABC.
From 1988 until the present day, EA Sports’ American football video-game series has been named after Madden.
First called John Madden Football, and more recently Madden NFL, the series will have been lucrative for Madden over the years. It has been a consistent best-seller, which is as much part of his legacy as the Super Bowl ring and peerless broadcasting.
Yahoo Finance reported after his death that Madden received $2 million per year from EA Sports between 2005 and 2009. The gaming company also paid Madden $150 million to use his name and likeness in perpetuity.
Death
John Madden passed away in December 2021 at 85 years of age. The exact cause of death has never been disclosed. Many suspect it was due to heart issues after open-heart surgery in the 2010s.
Madden has retired from NFL broadcasting in 2009. His impact on football continued, however, including a sizeable donation to Cal Poly’s new football facility. It is due to open in 2029, ensuring Madden will be helping the development of young football players long after his death.
After Madden’s passing, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement.
"We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major 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. 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."
The Las Vegas Raiders’ also published a statement praising Madden’s impact.
"Few individuals meant as much to the growth and popularity of professional football as Coach Madden, whose impact on the game both on and off the field was immeasurable.
"Madden cemented his role as a football icon in the broadcast booth, serving as a leading color analyst for all four major television networks – CBS, FOX, ABC and NBC.
"His work on Monday Night Football, the inception of the annual All-Madden Team and his role in the Madden NFL series of video games made the Madden name synonymous with pro football."
Teams Coached
John Madden started out as the offensive line coach for Hancock in 1960 and 1961.
For the two years after, he was Hancock’s head coach, before becoming San Diego State’s offensive coordinator between 1964 and 1966.
The Oakland Raiders hired Madden as linebackers coach for the 1967 season. He retained the role for 1968. In 1969, he took over as Raiders head coach, which is a position he held until 1979.
Madden had a winning record in every season as Raiders head coach. The 1971 and 1978 seasons were the only times he failed to reach the postseason.
He made the AFC Championship Game in 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977. The Raiders made the Super Bowl in 1976, beating the Minnesota Vikings in the Big Game.
The Raiders’ offence was in the top three in yardage on seven occasions. Madden won 103 of his 142 NFL regular season games.
Fame
How you remember John Madden will partly come down to your birth year. For those who watched his all-conquering Oakland Raiders teams, Madden is a decorated, accomplished head coach.
Guy Chamberlin is the only head coach in NFL history with a better winning percentage.
Others will look back on Madden as a unique, charismatic, and informative broadcaster. His style engaged viewers, with his trademark phrases a part of NFL commentary to this day.
The latest generation(s) will have never heard Madden commentate on a live NFL game.
They will have heard about his personality, insight, and achievements from their elders, perhaps asking why their favourite video game has the name of a man who retired from commentary when Tom Brady had won only three Super Bowls.
Biopic
Amazon MGM Studios is releasing a biopic on John Madden, which will be directed by David O. Russell.
Nicolas Cage will portray the Hall of Fame coach. According to the Hollywood Reporter, there will be a focus on the founding of the Madden NFL video game series.
This endeavour has been years in the making, with various big names linked to the role of Madden.
In a statement about the show, Russell said, “Nicolas Cage, one of our greatest and most original actors, will portray the best of the American spirit of originality, fun, and determination in which anything is possible as beloved national legend John Madden.
“Together with the ferocious style, focus, and inspired individualism of Al Davis, owner of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the feature will be about the joy, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s.”
Career Stats
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Seven division titles
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Seven AFC Championship Game appearances
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One Super Bowl win
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Career .750 winning percentage in the regular season
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No losing seasons
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12-6 record as Hancock head coach
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Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
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PFW AFL Coach of the Year 1969
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
