John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and legendary NFL analyst, dies at 85

Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and broadcasting legend John Madden, whose voice became a running commentary for NFL viewers every football weekend for nearly 30 years, died Tuesday morning, the league announced.  

He was 85. The NFL said he died unexpectedly and no other details were released. 

“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 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.”

Madden may have been known most recently for the popular football video games that bear his name, but he always knew what he wanted to be known as.

“People always ask, are you a coach or a broadcaster or a video game guy?” Madden said after his election to the Hall of Fame. “I’m a coach, always been a coach.”

He was hired by Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis in 1969 and at age 32 was given the reins to what became a storied franchise.

He had a 103-32-7 record with the Raiders, making eight playoff appearances and winning seven division titles before achieving his greatest coaching accomplishment, a victory in Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings. His .759 winning percentage is the best of all-time for coaches with more than 100 games.

“Few individuals meant as much to the growth and popularity of professional football as Coach Madden, whose impact on the game both on and off the field was immeasurable,” the Raiders said in a statement Tuesday night. 

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