Multiple sources reporting. Here is Schefter’s Tweet
NFL legend John Madden died unexpected this morning. He was 85.
NFL legend John Madden died unexpected this morning. He was 85.
John Madden has passed away
- Thread starter steveluck7
- Start date
PFT has it now. A giant. Maybe the best ambassador the game has ever had. RIP
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/28/john-madden-football-legend-dies-at-85/
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/28/john-madden-football-legend-dies-at-85/
This is hitting me harder than I would've expected. Sounds like a cliche, but he really was the voice of my childhood Sundays in the 80s. RIP
Seeing him in those John Madden doc trailers was hard. What an ambassador for the game.
I imagine Bill Parcells will be the next one to evoke a similar reaction.
I imagine Bill Parcells will be the next one to evoke a similar reaction.
Yeah, me too. He wasn't just the voice of my childhood on Sundays, I can hear that voice and think about those Sundays watching football with my father, who passed 11 years ago last week. So many great memories I had with my father, had John Madden in the background. RIP Coach. Watching him do games and then Berman on ESPN doing Primetime after the games was my church, after we went to church.
Learned football from Norm Van Brocklin, an original smart guy. Madden credited him.
“I got hurt in my rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles — a knee injury — and I couldn't play. While I was rehabbing, Norm Van Brocklin would be watching films and would explain what was happening. I ended up with a degree in teaching and my love for football meshed with teaching.”
“I got hurt in my rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles — a knee injury — and I couldn't play. While I was rehabbing, Norm Van Brocklin would be watching films and would explain what was happening. I ended up with a degree in teaching and my love for football meshed with teaching.”
Probably the best color man in broadcasting history. He really knew the game and could educate the viewer about it without being condescending or sounding like a know-it-all, while also seeming like a guy you'd like to have a beer with.
Everyone talks about the broadcasting and the video game, and rightfully so. But I also realized that John Madden is the biggest reason I know what a Turducken is.
RIP to a legend.
RIP to a legend.
The final drive of Super Bowl 36 with the Madden commentary is something I will remember always.
Feels like he should have been older than 85. He was only 65 for Pats - Rams? Having said that, RIP to an absolute legend.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC4qgrUgF9I
For those who want to watch it again. This was also the last Super Bowl called by Pat Summerall and John Madden
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Madden was one of the biggest pitchmen of the 80s. His commercials for Miller Lite were always on NFL Sundays. This feels like a family friend has passed.
View: https://youtu.be/OD81-vYUt2E
View: https://youtu.be/PrqJUh2B2P8
View: https://youtu.be/OD81-vYUt2E
View: https://youtu.be/PrqJUh2B2P8
We just watched the Madden thing on TV the other night. He looked really, really, really old. I’ve actually been thinking about that quite a bit since watching it and it’s really sad to see that confirmed.
I loved that guy. A turducken leg raised in his honor.
I loved that guy. A turducken leg raised in his honor.
Truth be told, I never cared much for his color commentary. Even in the 80s, it seemed sloppy and all over the place. But he was indeed a terrific ambassador for the game, literally in the case of the video game. And I agree the final drive of IIIVI was awesome – I loved how he admitted he was totally wrong about taking a knee in real time. In a lot of ways it was that sweetness that made him so damned likable. RIP, Coach.
Hated him as a coach, loved him as a broadcaster, and am grateful to him for the many hours of joy he brought to me and anyone else who has ever picked up a game controller.
RIP LEGEND!
RIP LEGEND!
Rest In Peace. I grew up playing Madden. Without it, I might have no clue how football works or watch it at all. He’s probably influenced millions of young people throughout the years via the game to have an interest in it.
I read a story once that he thought of it as a football learning tool so he wouldn’t agree to the release until they got all of the strategy right. So, he is literally responsible for teaching football to millions.
What a lousy way to end the year; and on my birthday too of all days.
I loved him as a commentator; one of my favorite bits from him was when he was breaking down a missed FG, he was drawing it up on the screen "Well, see, he kicks the ball here and instead of going through the uprights, it goes weeb, weeb, weeb and he missed it"........or words to that effect.
R.I.P coach.
I loved him as a commentator; one of my favorite bits from him was when he was breaking down a missed FG, he was drawing it up on the screen "Well, see, he kicks the ball here and instead of going through the uprights, it goes weeb, weeb, weeb and he missed it"........or words to that effect.
R.I.P coach.
Face of the NFL for 25+ years.
His legacy as a coach would look a lot different without the 70’s Steelers in his way.
His legacy as a coach would look a lot different without the 70’s Steelers in his way.
I loved John Madden. I loved how he brought excitement, passion, and humor to every game he called. I loved how he didn’t take himself too seriously. I loved how seamlessly he and Pat Summerall blended together, neither talking over the other or talking too much. He’s long been the yardstick by which every NFL color commentator is measured, and no one has ever come close.
I echo the thoughts about the video game - it helped teach me a lot of football concepts
View: https://twitter.com/globechadfinn/status/1475993544632549388?s=21
View: https://twitter.com/globechadfinn/status/1475993544632549388?s=21
He understood that the game should be fun and entertaining. In a field full of perfectionist bots that sanitize their takes and seem to be on the referee union’s payroll, he said exactly what he thought and felt at all times. And in his case, he could criticize players, coaches, and officials without being mean spirited.
I fundamentally learned football strategy by playing Madden. It is not an accessible sport from strategic and rule perspectives, so having a self-directed tool that helped - in addition to watching hundreds of games - learn the game was invaluable.
I fundamentally learned football strategy by playing Madden. It is not an accessible sport from strategic and rule perspectives, so having a self-directed tool that helped - in addition to watching hundreds of games - learn the game was invaluable.
To his credit he questioned the call, given the field position, then gave some props and said he was wrong. Great drive and great call.
RIP to a legend.
Madden lost five AFL/AFC Championship Games to teams that went on to win the Super Bowl. And the Immaculate Reception was one of the flukiest plays in history. The Raiders had the Steelers beat. Madden could have won 2-3 Super Bowls with a little more luck.
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Came here just for this. It is the defining call of my sports life. That, and “Stabbed by Foulke,” but the Pats Super Bowl was bigger for me because of where I was in my life. His voice is football to me, and the video games were obviously a staple of
My childhood. Ugh, fuck 2021.
Beyond likability, Madden was an announcer for almost 30 years and was the face and namesake for one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. They aren't in the same universe as far as name recognition. Parcells is nothing more than a HOF head coach, Madden is arguably the most famous NFL (non-player) personality of all time.
Madden had the best winning percentage of any head coach in the last 90 years (.759). Better than Lombardi, Belichick, etc.
I'm that odd combination you can get in Connecticut: a Red Sox fan and a Giants fan. The Giants always stunk when I was a kid. John Madden was partnered with Pat Summerall on CBS' top team in Lawrence Taylor's rookie year. It's impossible to think of LT and Phil Simms without hearing the voices of Pat and John.
Rest in peace.
Rest in peace.
I also just realized he hosted an episode of SNL on January 30, 1982 View: https://youtu.be/fhVJou5ueNg
Hey, that was us! Growing up in Connecticut, my brother and I were huge Red Sox and Giants fans. It should be noted that the Giants were bad back then but that the Pats were worse....
Greatest ever in the booth. Didn’t take himself that seriously. Most analysts are SO arrogant. He never talked down to the audience. Sure he wasn’t as great at the end. In the early days there was never anyone like him. Before or Since
RIP, sir
RIP, sir
Madden was comfort. Hearing his voice meant it was Sunday and football was on, especially when our family first came to the States, even though I couldn't understand half of what he was saying.
Simmons just put something up with Brian Curtis that looks to be the first 30 minutes of his pod. I didn’t listen yet so can’t comment on quality.
Watching that now, twenty years later, and you can see how much Madden and Summerall let the game do the majority of the talking- they are adding analysis, but only what is needed, nothing more. It seems starkly different from what we have now.
Ambassador is the perfect term. This was my first real introduction to John Madden (and football really):
View: https://youtu.be/B_L75FXv9J0
View: https://youtu.be/B_L75FXv9J0