John Earl Madden, born April 10, 1936 (age 73) in Daly City, CA, has decided to retire from broadcasting, after 30+ years as an announcer in the NFL. No question, we will all miss this former NFL football player, professional NFL coach, and truly special commentator who not only brought his own brand to the job, but boy oh boy, did he know the game.
It was only three years ago that Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his stellar coaching career, which began at Buffalo State College in 1959. The following year, he took an assistant coach job at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA, where he was later promoted to head coach. His last college endeavor was with San Diego State University as a defensive assistant, where he remained until 1966. His rise to the NFL occurred in 1967, when he was hired as the linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders. Madden was promoted to head coach in 1969, and managed to compile a 103-32-7 as head coach. He is still the winningest coach in NFL history, with a .763 percentage. Madden also managed to take the Oakland Raiders to SuperBowl stardom in 1976. He retired from coaching in 1979 to begin his broadcasting career.
And he did have his time in the trenches. A football standout in high school and college, were it not for a knee injury which ended his NFL career in his first season, perhaps we would have seen the same excellence he portrayed on camera on the field. Unfortunately, after being chosen in the 21st round of the 1958 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, he had a very short stint on the grid iron.
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And for Mr. Madden, it is not the end, but the beginning of a new and likely even more exciting chapter of his life.
Good luck John. We'll miss you.
Click here http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MaddJo0.htm for more stats
