Trivia

Never officially played in the NFL. Was a member of the 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles his only season, but was sidelined with an injury and never was on the active roster.

Hasn't flown since having a panic attack on a flight out of Tampa in 1979. Reportedly his fear was not about flying, or turbulence, but about being encased and not being able to get out. Besides, he once said: in an airplane he traveled all over the country and saw nothing, and now that he is on a motor coach, he sees more of America.

Is noted for his fear of flying. He travels around the country in a luxurious customized bus, which he has dubbed the "Maddencruiser." When not on the road, he and his wife reside in the exclusive community of Blackhawk, east of San Francisco. He also maintains an apartment in the Dakota Apartments in New York City as an East Coast base during the NFL season.

He is famous for the use of Turducken references during the league's traditional Thanksgiving Day games. He traditionally eats the combination on-air.

Became an assistant football coach for the Oakland Raiders in 1967. Served as the Raiders' head coach from 1969-1978. He guided the Raiders to 103 victories and only 32 losses in ten seasons. His overall record, including playoff games, is second in winning percentage only to the late Green Bay Packers coaching legend, Vince Lombardi.

In 2005, Dick Ebersol, president of NBC Sports, announced that Madden would do color commentary for NBC's Sunday night NFL games beginning with the 2006 season. Madden thus will become the first sportscaster to have worked for all of the "Big Four" U.S. broadcast television networks.

Of all former head coaches who have won a Super Bowl, only Madden and Vincent Lombardi have never finished a season with a losing record. Among active coaches with Super Bowl rings, Mike Tomlin has yet to finish a season with a losing record. However, he has finished 8-8 (.500) three times.

On October 29, 1960, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo team plane crashed on take off from Toledo Ohio, killing 22 people, most of them Madden's teammates from the prior season. From then on Madden was a white-knuckle flier, and would sometimes have claustrophobic panic episodes. After witnessing the crippling injury to Darryl Stingley on August 13, 1978, these episodes became more frequent and intense. When the season ended, Madden quit coaching so that he could quit flying.

Lends his voice, personality and name to the Madden NFL series of football video games published by Electronic Arts. Madden NFL is created at Electronic Arts Tiburon Studios in Orlando, Florida and consistently is one of the top selling games in North America every year.

Since 1980, has worked as a color commentator on network television broadcasts of NFL games. For more than 20 years he worked alongside Pat Summerall, first at CBS, and then at the Fox Network. The pair's last game was Super Bowl XXXVI, after which Madden became co-host of ABC's Monday Night Football in the autumn of 2002 with longtime play-by-play announcer Al Michaels.

Led the Oakland Raiders to a victory in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 over the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14.

Portrayed by Frank Caliendo

Coach for the Oakland Raiders 1969-1979.

Is a former football coach and lends his name to the EA Sports video game.

Release of his book, "All Madden: Hey, I'm Talking Pro Football" by John Madden with Dave Anderson. (1996)

In recent years he has appeared in a variety of radio and television commercials including Ace Hardware, Outback Steakhouse, Rent-a-Center, Miller Lite, Sirius Satellite Radio and Tinactin. In particular, the Miller beer advertisements cemented Madden's image in the public eye as a bumbling but loveable personality.

Recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award (which rewards exceptional longtime contributions to radio and TV in pro football) in 2002.

Release of his book, "One Knee Equals Two Feet: (And Everything Else You Need to Know About Football)". (1986)

Release of his book, "One Size Doesn't Fit All". (1988)

Release of his book, "The First Book of Football". (1988)

Football commentator, former pro coach.

Always wore shirtsleeves when he coached, no matter how cold it got.

Retired from coaching after the 1978 season.

Grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and played college football at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.

He has won several Emmys for his sports broadcasting work.

Noted for doing Monday-Friday morning sports updates on KCBS-74 radio station in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Release of his book, "Hey, Wait a Minute, I Wrote a Book". (1984)

After the final 2005 season of NFL Monday Night Football (1970), Madden will join NBC's NFL coverage. (June 2005)

He was the son of Mary Margaret (Flaherty) and Earl Russell Madden, and was of Irish, German, and English descent. He was raised mostly in Daly City, California.

Survived by his wife and two sons: Joseph and Michael and numerous grandchildren.

Inducted into the Daly City [California] Sports Wall of Fame in 2000 (inaugural class).