John Madden, the legendary NFL coach and broadcaster, died at the age of 85, according to the NFL.
John Madden played both offense and defense for Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
Madden gained fame as the coach of the Oakland Raiders, making it to seven AFC title games and winning the Super Bowl. He retired from coaching at age 42 and turned to broadcasting and video games, which made him more famous. He and Pat Summerall became an iconic duo in the booth while he lent his name and expertise to the “Madden NFL football” franchise, which is one of the best-selling franchises of all time.
Here are images from his career, showing him through his start in football at Cal Poly, his tenure as head coach of the Raiders and his career change to broadcaster. His work in the booth and his name on the popular video game ensured that his legacy had a wider impact beyond the gridiron. He spent the latter part of his life in the East Bay and could be seen frequently at events. He even got to watch his grandson Jesse Madden play quarterback for the Bishop O’Dowd team during the pandemic.
Oakland, CA February 5, 1969 – John Madden speaks at a press conference. To his right are Al Davis and Wayne Valley. He was then the youngest NFL coach in history. (Russ Reed / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives) Santa Rosa, CA March 1, 1969 – Assistant Dick Wood, coach John Madden and Sid Hall (right) prepare for the upcoming season by reviewing game footage. (Robert Stinnett / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives) Oakland, CA February 5, 1969 – New Raiders coach John Madden talks to his team on the sidelines. (Russ Reed / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives) Oakland Raiders coach John Madden argues with the refs at the Oakland Coliseum in 1975. (Lonnie Wilson/Bay Area News Group Archives) Oakland, CA November 6, 1977 – Raiders coach John Madden points during a game. (Ron Riesterer / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives) Coach John Madden of the Oakland Raiders is carried from the field by his players after his team defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI in Pasadena, Calif., in this Jan. 9, 1977 photo. (AP Photo) John Madden sheds a tear at a news conference on Jan. 4, 1979, in Oakland, Calif., at which he announced he would resign as coach of the Oakland Raiders. “I’m never going to coach again,” said Madden at the news conference. (AP Photo/James Palmer) John Madden takes in a boxing match in Pleasanton on Feb. 27, 1987. Madden was a huge fan of all sports, including boxing but his expertise was in football. (Gary Reyes / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives) In this Feb. 3, 2002, file photo, Fox broadcasters Pat Summerall, left, and John Madden stand in the booth at Louisiana Superdome before the NFL Super Bowl XXXVI football game in New Orleans. The duo became iconic in the booth. (AP Photo/Ric Feld, File) John Madden, left, NFL analyst on FOX Sports, smiles as Pat Summerall announces his retirement during a news conference Monday, July 24, 2000, in the Century City section of Los Angeles. The 2001-02 season will mark Summerall’s 50th and final year with the NFL, as a player and a brodcaster. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) John Madden recieved some kidding from Al Michaels about his fear of flying during a recording session in Pleasanton on July 23, 2002. Madden has moved to ABC to team with Michaels on Monday Night Football. Madden spent most of his broadcasting career at CBS and Fox with Pat Summerall — now he’s teamed on a new network with a new partner as the three-man Monday Night era comes to a close. (Rick E. Martin/Bay Area News archives) “After awhile, they know more about it than you do,” John Madden says of his sons’ business savvy. Mike, left, 39, is a Tri-Valley real estate developer and Joe, 37, runs a Pleasanton commercial and video production house. They pose in the Madden Cruiser in Oakland. John Madden’s fear of flying led to him traveling across the country in the vehicle. (Norbert von der Groeben/ Times) Former Oakland Raiders Football Coach John Madden sits still as he is measured for a bronze bust by artist Blair Buswell at Red Bear Inc. Friday, April 21, 2006, in Pleasanton, California. Later this year Maden a local football legend, will be immortalized in the Football Hall of Fame in Ohio. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group archives) Former Oakland Raiders coach John Madden, right, puts his arm around Raiders owner Al Davis after Davis introduced Madden for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) Oakland Raiders’ legend John Madden speaks to fans after he recieved his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Director Erik James, left, adjusts a video camera in the sound production room as Engineer Sean House (seated) monitors John Madden making recording sound for a video game bearing his name, in the far room. ( Ron Burda/Staff archives) Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden, left, eulogizes former quarterback Kenny Stabler during a halftime ceremony to honor the Raider star at an NFL football game at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. Stabler died earlier this year. (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group) Hosts John Madden center, and Steve Mariucci, right, greet members of the Nun Better bocce team at the 2013 John Madden and Steve Mariucci Charity Bocce Tournament held at Campo di Bocce in Livermore, Calif., on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. The 15th annual “Battle of the Bay” is a benefit for the Special Olympics of Northern California, Tri-Valley High School Football, the Diabetic Youth Foundation and the Mariucci Family Foundation. (Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group) Former NFL football coach and retired commentator John Madden sits in his chair, center, and watches as San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at his Goal Line Productions studio on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Pleasanton, Calif. Since retiring Madden is watching all the NFL action from the comfort of his studio. The main screen is a 16 ft. x 9 ft. surrounded by nine 63-inch HD televisions. Early this morning Madden was watching 9 games at once. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff) OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 9: Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden watches as Bishop O’Dowd players warm up before their high school football game against James Logan in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, April 9, 2021. Madden’s grandson Jesse Madden is the quarterback of the Bishop O’Dowd team. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group) Plaques honoring legendary Oakland Athletics and Raiders such as John Madden hang on the suite level at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, March 27, 2017, as NFL owners approve the Raiders move to Las Vegas and a new $1.9 billion domed-roofed stadium scheduled to open in 2020. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group)
