NFL legend John Madden dead at 85
Fox News,
by
Bradford Betz
Original Article
Posted By: Dreadnought,
12/28/2021 7:43:08 PM
NFL legend John Madden died Tuesday at the age of 85, the league announced in a statement.
"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 sound board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden,
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Hardright 12/28/2021 7:59:54 PM (No. 1021311)
In the late 80's I was in charge of the
In the late 80's I was in charge of the Auction at my daughter's school Country Fair. I thought I'd call John Madden and see if he could donate something. I figured, what have I got to lose. He was very nice and donated several autographed books. He ever gave me one. Very nice person.God bless your soul, John Madden. RIP
28 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
jj1319 12/28/2021 8:15:51 PM (No. 1021329)
I wouldn't give you a dime for the entire NFL, but when I was a kid I loved it. Oakland was playing my beloved Browns (they were very good back then) in a playoff game. Stabler went out with an injury and Madden sent in George Blanda, who was the oldest player in the League. In the final seconds, Blanda threw the go ahead touchdown pass and then stayed on the field to kick the extra point. I was devastated, but couldn't deny that Madden orchestrated a brilliant drive. I loved the guy. He really was a spectacular character.
RIP John Madden.
25 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
GoodDeal 12/28/2021 8:16:11 PM (No. 1021331)
Rest in Peace Coach.
22 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Butch 12/28/2021 8:16:56 PM (No. 1021333)
For years he was a host of a great morning show on sports, and he was great. I always enjoyed what he had to say about sports. He was like a walking enciclopedia of sports, and and astute observor. I miss his show!
RIP Great man.
P.S. He was terrified of flying, and always rode a private coach between cities. A big tough guy who was terrified of flying -- I admired him for being true to himself, and for living life on his own terms.
17 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
ussjimmycarter 12/28/2021 8:23:01 PM (No. 1021340)
My favorite commentator of all time! Stopped watching much when he retired ! Great coach and person! God Bless your family sir!
15 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Son of Grady 12/28/2021 8:24:33 PM (No. 1021342)
“If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life.
I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster.
I haven't worked a day in my life.” - John Madden.
That's what I would call a blessed life. Good for him.
31 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
caljeepgirl 12/28/2021 8:26:09 PM (No. 1021344)
Ah, the good old days of Stabler (The Snake), Biletnikoff (Sticky Fingers) & Blanda! Madden was just a brilliant coach....one-of-a-kind, that's for sure! Lots of thrilling Raiders games in those salad days....he's been missed....
16 people like this.
John Madden continued the legacy of Vince Lombardi from the Coach’s job to the broadcast booth. He was eloquent, knew the game and the personnel better than most, and was highly respected by his peers and by the fans of the Game.
13 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Strike3 12/28/2021 8:33:16 PM (No. 1021353)
A good man who enjoyed his career when the NFL and its players were admired and respected.
13 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Grounded 12/28/2021 8:35:20 PM (No. 1021356)
R.I.P. Few people get to spend every day doing what they love.
14 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Italiano 12/28/2021 8:36:22 PM (No. 1021359)
A legend, an old-timer. I wonder what he thought about what the NFL has become.
I know what Lombardi, Halas, Paul Brown, Landry, et. al. would have thought.
12 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
formerNYer 12/28/2021 8:37:12 PM (No. 1021362)
I always heard he was kind to everyone he met when he left coaching and became a broadcaster, he and Pat Summerall were always a pleasure to listen to and they were a lot of fun in the movie The Replacements.
RIP Mr. Madden, I am saddened by this news.
12 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
snapper451 12/28/2021 8:38:25 PM (No. 1021364)
Heaven gets John Madden today and Satan is the grand prize winner of Dingy Harry Reid.
20 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
RedWhite&Blue2 12/28/2021 9:11:09 PM (No. 1021421)
Butkus Ditka Montana Madden Blanda
Bradshaw Hornung Starr Unitas etc...
Before the politicization
Before it became jungle-ball
10 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Nashman 12/28/2021 9:13:41 PM (No. 1021425)
I had the extreme pleasure to work with John Madden on a few occasions. Biggest hands you’ve ever seen. Biggest heart, too. A prime example of humanity, humbleness, and humor. He will be missed. RIP John.
10 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
john56 12/28/2021 9:14:05 PM (No. 1021427)
Heaven just got a great football mind. Super Bowl Sunday party up in heaven should be great with Madden commentary!
5 people like this.
#4 - One theory is that his fear of flying goes back to his days as a 2-way lineman at Cal Poly in the late fifties. By 1960, he had graduated but several of his former teammates were killed in the infamous plane crash that year.
The first time I ever heard the phrase, "That guy's elevator doesn't go to the top floor," when commenting once on a shirtless fan in subfreezing weather. Brilliant.
Unlike others here, the closest I ever got to him was sitting in the right field bleachers in Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, watching that 1977 game that the Raiders won in OT. Nothing sterile about pro football in those days.
RIP, Coach.
8 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Miceal 12/29/2021 4:52:17 AM (No. 1021588)
RIP, Coach...your wit and wisdom will be missed...
4 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Hazymac 12/29/2021 9:29:08 AM (No. 1021787)
God bless Coach Madden, who embodied football and was a great coach and commentator.
IIRC, he was the first one to to mention the unusual dish called turducken, which is a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, further stuffed into a de-boned turkey. On air, Madden with his hand sawed through a turducken demonstrating what it was made of.
Coach Madden, a good man, will be remembered and missed.
2 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Ned Scott 12/29/2021 10:26:48 AM (No. 1021859)
I remember an NFL playoff game on CBS, where John Madden and another commentator were in the television studio while former coach Dick Vermeil and another announcer were seated at a desk near the playing field at the football stadium.
Dick Vermeil resembles actor Robert Redford and always looked especially well-groomed during his tv appearances.
Anyway, as the tv coverage was shifting from Dick Vermeil on the field to John Madden in the studio, we caught a quick glimpse of Dick Vermeil pulling out a comb and combing his Robert Redford-like hair. Almost immediately, John Madden, the ultimate regular guy, shouted out, “Coaches aren’t supposed to look neat. Stop combing your hair, Dick!”
To say that the “slightly” narcissistic Dick Vermeil was embarrassed on National tv would be a great understatement.
Requiem aeternam, Coach Madden.
3 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
broken01 12/30/2021 8:09:05 AM (No. 1022848)
Rest in Peace Coach John Madden. You along with the late great Pat Summerall were awesome commentating back when the NFL was king as far as professional sports. My condolences to your family.
0 people like this.
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