RIP John Madden

[WrongVerb]

NFL Hall of Fame coach, broadcasting icon John Madden dies at 85

John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster whose exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades, died Tuesday morning, the NFL said. He was 85.

The league said he died unexpectedly and did not detail a cause.

[KoryMac5]

Madden and Summerall to me have no peers they were in a league of their own back in the 80's when I was first learning the game. Sad to have lost such a legend.

[dubc47834]

BOOM!!!

He had such a simple, but genious way of calling a football game.

[Reds Freak]

I'd tune into his games just to hear his commentary. Felt like a big game no matter who was playing. Not sure I can say that for too many other announcers.

[UKFlounder]

Very sad news. He was a pleasure to listen to.

[KronoRed]

It was a big deal if you followed an NFC team in the 80's or 90's and he was doing the game.

RIP

[goreds2]

I will always remember Madden and Summerall doing the Thanksgiving Day football broadcast. Thanksgiving has never been the same since then.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Sumrall and Madden were required viewing for broadcast and journalism guys of my era. Madden's ability to explain complex plays with simple graphics and diction was unparalleled. He was, IMO, the greatest broadcaster of his era and one of the top two or three of any era.

[Boston Red]

I don't know. He shared an era with Keith Jackson. I don't know if I can rank either of those guys above the other. Both unique and fantastic.

[Tuff Nut]

Being a long time Chiefs fan, I hated him, as a coach. But one cannot take away what the man did for football, both on the field and in the booth. One of the few that America would tune into, just to hear him dictate the game...RIP

[RedsBaron]

I was an ardent Raiders fan in the late 60s and throughout the 70s. Madden was a terrific coach. He then became an iconic and terrific announcer.
I've read a lot of books about and by members of the Madden Raiders. One thing that always comes through in those books is the affection that the Raiders players, a rowdy band of outcasts, had for Madden. R.I.P.

[cumberlandreds]

Madden was a great coach before he was a broadcaster. HIs Raider team were always in the hunt for a Super Bowl. They usually fell short though until he finally won Super Bowl 11. I think he retired young because of burnout and his claustrophobia. He turned to broadcasting on CBS was almost an instant hit. His style just resonated with most football fans. He could articulate plays, strategies and the overall game to level that common fan could relate. He did this for 30 years and on every network that carried NFL games in that span. That is truly remarkable! He and Pat Summerall made the greatest broadcasting team in NFL history and maybe just the best of any sport. RIP John Madden. Thank you for all the fun you gave us fans for all those many years!

[bucksfan2]

Wasn't the biggest Madden fan but could recognize his greatness. I primarily knew him and Sumeral doing Fox games, ones the Bengals were never on. But they are far superior to Buck and Aikman.

I will most remember him for the video game as well as his impact in pop culture.

He was a great coach and a guy who truly loved football. But his greatest strength was being able to take his enthusiasm for the game and make it resonate with the average fan.

[oregonred]

I don't know. He shared an era with Keith Jackson. I don't know if I can rank either of those guys above the other. Both unique and fantastic.

So true. When Madden or Keith Jackson were calling an NFL or college game it was a big deal and must see TV

Who could forget the Madden Bus going cross country between NFL weeks due to his fear of flying

[Mutaman]

The great Dave Casper was an All-American tight end/offensive tackle at Notre Dame but Madden drafted him to play tackle. Casper didn’t argue but he wanted to
catch the ball so he showed up at camp having lost about 15 pounds.
Madden understood that was Casper’s way of telling him what position he wanted to play so he made him a tight end and the rest is history- Ghost to the post.