NFL’s legends: John Madden

Nothing jazzes me up like football. I've acquired more passion of the years, not less. Not to love it wouldn't make sense.

when the going goes tough, you don't quit. And you don't fold up. And you don't go in the other direction

The fewer rules a coach has, the fewer rules there are for players to break.

There is a father bucket and a mother bucket and since the last time they’ve had a baby bucket!

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.

Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
 

To me discipline is on the field not off it.

Thanks, coach.

           When you hear John madden do you think of the NFL? A legendary coach? The raiders? Or maybe an iconic analyst or you just think of the game madden. When his friends and family hear that name they think of a man who truly loved football more than anything else. John madden left a mark on the NFL and he’s gonna be known forever in the sport. John Earl Madden was born in Austin, Minnesota, on April 10, 1936. He moved to Daly City, California, in south of San Francisco. When Madeen was young he attended catholicparochial school. He graduated in 1950 and than Jefferson high school graduating in 1954. 

            As a football star in high school, Madden played one season at the college of San Mateo, in 1954 before he was given a football scholarship to the university of Oregon studying pre-law and playing football. He was redshirted before of a knee injury and had a knew operation. Than he went to a couple different colleges over the years and finally went to San Luis Obispo, where he played both offense and defense for the mustangs in 1957. He earned a bachelor of science in 1959 and then a Master of Arts in 1961.

            He won first team all conference honors as an offensive tackle in his debut season at San Luis, and was a catcher for the Mustangs baseball team. He was well known amongst his teammates for his impressive speed for a linemen. During the 1957 season, madden caught a pass from future fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Beathard.

            In 1958 Madden was drafted in the 21st round (244th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles (months before beggening his senior season at San Luis) Hos senior year which Madden was on the left side of the offensive line, was cut short due to a season ending collarbone injury while making a tackle againest Long Beach State in October 1958. However on January 3rd, 1958, Madden played in the All-American Bowl in Tucson, Arizona and suffered an injury on his other knee. In his first training camp, during an Eagles scrimmage in August 1959, ending his playing career without having an opportunity to play a regular season game professionally.

            John Madden became an assistant coach in 1960 at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California. He was made head coach in 1962. Madden went 12-6 in two seasons including an 81 mark in 1963, during this his bulldogs were ranked number 9 nationally among city colleges. Following 1963 he was hired as a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State where he worked through 1966. During the final campaign the 1966 Aztecs were ranked among the top small colleges in the country.

             As a successful college coach Madden was hired by legendary coach Al Davis as a linebacker coach for the Oakland Raiders in 1967. He helped the team reach Super Bowl II that season. A year later after Radwrs head coach John Rauch resigned to take the role for the Buffalo Bills. Madden was named the Raiders head coach on February 4th 1969 becoming the NFL’s youngest coach at 32. Maddens first y Raiders squad went 12-1-1 in 1969 but lost 17-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the last American Football League Championship Game. The rest of his career followed that trend of having a winning record but losing in the championships. But in 1976 Raiders went 13-1 in the regular season and won first round of the playoffs againest the Patriots 24-21. In the AFC championship game Madden finally beat the Steelers 24-7 and on January 9th 1977 Madden won Super Bowl XI 32-14 againest the Minnesota Vikings. For the next 2 years Madden went to the AFC championship and lost to the broncos and the next year he didn’t make playoffs and on January 4th 1979 due to an Ulcer and occupational burnout Madden announced his retirement from the Oakland Raiders.

            Madden joined CBS as a color commentator shortly after retiring. After working lower profile positions in his first years, he was elevated to the networks top football broadcasting duo with pat summerall in 1981. Madden with Pat summerall would go on to call eight Super Bowls together On their final CBS telecast together (the 1993 NFC championship Game on January 23, 1994) Madden told Summerall that CBS may no longer have the NFL at least they have the memories.

            Throughout 1994-2001 Madden worked with Fox Sports and 2002-2005 he worked with ABC sports finally going to NBC sports and retiring in 2009. Madden had a great career over time and he’s a true football fan. He dedicated his entire life to the game until he finally died at the age of 85 in 2021 of undisclosed cases. John Madden will go down as an NFL legend and the face of the Madden game series.

The road to easy street goes through the sewers.