The football world is in mourning this week after the shocking news of Hall of Fame coach and broadcasting icon John Madden dying unexpectedly Tuesday morning, the NFL announced. He was 85.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in 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.”
Shortly after the heartbreaking news was released, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released a heartfelt statemkent.
Madden was just 32-years-old when then-Raiders owner Al Davis hired him to coach Oakland in 1969. Oakland never had a losing record under Madden, winning seven division titles, making the playoffs eight times, and a victory in the 1977 Super Bowl.
Madden gained even more worldwide fame for the football video game that bears his name — EA Sports’ “Madden NFL.”
