He started his coaching career in the shadows of Lombardi and Landry and Stram and in a decade’s time earned his place among the legends of his era. At a point where two leagues were merging into one, Madden had to establish himself early and often. And establish himself he did, halting the historic run of Don Shula’s mighty Dolphins, and taking down the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers on the way to winning the Oakland Raiders’ first Super Bowl title.
Madden brought his enthusiasm, tactical smarts and lunch-pail relatability to the broadcast booth and was an instant sensation, revolutionizing the role of the color commentator. He helped turn the sports division of a fledgling network into the empire known as Fox Sports. He called Super Bowls on four different networks. He won 16 Emmy awards. And he threw the opinions of experts aside, eschewing the All Pro team for the All-Madden variety that would soon become the measuring stick for NFL athletic success.
Upon lending his voice, personality and name (what they now call NIL) to EA sports in the late 1980s, Madden would immortalize himself while launching the biggest-selling video game series to date. Kids who weren’t alive when he stepped away from broadcasting were playing parents who weren’t alive when he stepped away from coaching. Amazingly, for a man enshrined into both the pro football and the broadcasting hall of fame, his name will forever be connected to the Madden NFL franchise over anything else.
The game lost a titan last night. (And this comes from a Steeler fan.) RIP coach.
