John Madden, the legendary NFL coach, announcer, and namesake for one of the greatest sports video games of all time died unexpectedly Tuesday morning at the age of 85, the league announced in a statement tonight.
Madden was an absolute legend in everything that he did and his amazing life story was beautifully told just a few days ago in a must-watch documentary that aired on Fox before the Browns-Packers Christmas Day Game.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement:
“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.”
Related:
The story of John Madden’s legendary turducken
Ranking the best and worst Super Bowl announcers, from John Madden to Phil Simms
Here is the NFL’s complete statement:
NFL legend John Madden died unexpected this morning. He was 85. pic.twitter.com/FoC1mAzoF6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2021
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had released this statement:
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in statement: "I am not aware of anyone who has made a more meaningful impact on the National Football League than John Madden, and I know of no one who loved the game more. …There is no one who lived a more beautiful football life than John Madden." https://t.co/YCPSgCHxVZ pic.twitter.com/5RsnYtLNPD
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 29, 2021
The NFL world paid its tributes to Madden:
Absolute legend amongst legends.
Rest In Peace Mr. Madden.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 29, 2021
Rest In Peace to a Legend! Prayers to the Madden Family. 🙏🏽 https://t.co/4zvhu5vEUd
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 29, 2021
RIP legend. https://t.co/NcEiIhIyAZ
— Nino (@qdiggs6) December 29, 2021
RIP 🙏🏾 https://t.co/Oe3uhKDjZi
— Ceedy Duce. (@CGJXXIII) December 29, 2021
So sad to hear this.
Such a fan of his-Growing up in my era it was Pat Summerall & John Madden on Sunday.
No matter who your team was-changed the game of how football games were broadcasted.
Legend as a coach and a broadcaster-My thoughts & prayers with his family & friends. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/wVKbWySrtF— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 29, 2021
John Madden, the G.O.A.T. pic.twitter.com/dnEvOnF6ZY
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 29, 2021
John Madden was one of the most remarkable people in the history of football. A head coach at 32, a Super Bowl champion by 40, then building one of the best broadcasting careers ever two years after that. A legendary career and life.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 29, 2021
John Madden is the NFL. You cannot tell the story of its rise without tracing it through him. A true face of the league and an ambassador for football and a universally beloved figure. RIP
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 29, 2021
John Madden was one of the greatest NFL head coaches and broadcasters of all time, and it's cool that his name will continue to live on even for those too young to remember that.
RIP to a legend. His voice is instant nostalgia. pic.twitter.com/BWta0OMcMW
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) December 29, 2021
When I think of football from the 1990s, I think of John Madden before anything else.
This one really hurts.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 29, 2021
John Madden and Pat Summerall.
Simply the best.
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 29, 2021
big part of why everyone my age thinks every football color commentator is wack is because we grew up with john madden. man set an unreachable standard.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 29, 2021
As a color analyst, John Madden was beloved, influential, informative, and authentic. There was no one like him before, and no imitator has come close since.
— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) December 29, 2021
That documentary perfectly summed up John Madden’s contributions to football. I’m glad I still have my #AllMadden sweatshirt. pic.twitter.com/Wni8oWpdL6
— Derek Jones (@DerekJones79) December 25, 2021
Sunday #NFL games with John Madden and Pat Summerall were the best. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/y552g4WqbB
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) December 29, 2021
RIP #JohnMadden. Watched @NFLonFOX amazing “All Madden.” documentary on him the other day, and he still seemed so lively. Great man. Great legacy.
— Nate Davis (@ByNateDavis) December 29, 2021
I don’t know if there will ever be a broadcaster in sports that can make a game feel like an EVENT again, quite like John Madden and Pat Summerall did every single Sunday.
Somewhere, they just have to be calling a great game together once again.
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) December 29, 2021
