NFL Hall of Fame coach, television icon, John Madden dies at 85
- Hall of Fame coach and voice of football to many died on Wednesday (Hong Kong time) in the US
- As head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Madden made it to seven AFC title games and won the Super Bowl in 1976
John Madden, the voice of American football to one generation, a Hall of Fame coach to another and the face of the video game franchise that bears his name to a third, died on Wednesday morning (Hong Kong time), at the age of 85.
The NFL announced his death, saying it had “received the sad news that the great John Madden died unexpectedly”.
In a statement, the league’s commissioner Roger Goodell sent the condolences of the “entire NFL” to Madden’s family.
“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,” Goodell said.
“Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many other. 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 initially gained fame as the youngest head coach in professional football when Al Davis put him in charge at the Oakland Raiders. He made it to seven AFC title games and won the Super Bowl in 1976.
He was such a success at the Raiders, compiling a 103-32-7 regular-season record, that his winning percentage is still the highest among coaches who have won at least 100 games.