Pro Football Hall of Fame coach John Madden has passed away at age 85.
The NFL announced Madden’s death Tuesday evening in a release, stating that they “received the sad news” of Madden’s unexpected death earlier that morning.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell via a release from the league office. “We all knew 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 soundign 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.”
Madden coached the Raiders from 1969-78, leading Oakland to a Super Bowl win at the end of the 1976 season. Madden was a broadcaster for the NFL on CBS from 1979-93, often paired with Pat Summerall. The duo broadcast with FOX from 1994-2001 when Madden left to be a part of ABC Monday Night Football from 2002-05. From 2006-08, Madden was on NBC Sunday Night Football with Super Bowl XLII being his last game.
