Legendary football figure John Madden passed away Tuesday at the age of 85. In the moments after the news emerged, there was an outpouring of memories, support, and love towards Madden and his loved ones, including from the NFL’s official announcement.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “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,” Goodell added. “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 NFL what it is today.”
From there, former players shared love in celebrating Madden’s impact.
An icon to the game of football
Rest In Peace https://t.co/y9LlqN5xBX— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) December 29, 2021
Rest In Peace John Madden… one of the main reasons why I love football so much… wow!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 29, 2021
When you think NFL football, you think John Madden.
RIP to a Legend. pic.twitter.com/8JYH7H9GKW
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) December 29, 2021
Just found out that John Madden has passed away. The world and the world of sports has lost a true icon. We all learns so much from him. My prayer go out to his family.
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) December 29, 2021
Videos of Madden’s commentary work also made the rounds, remembering his on-air brilliance.
https://twitter.com/TylerRickyTynes/status/1475987891763527681?s=20
John Madden, the G.O.A.T. pic.twitter.com/dnEvOnF6ZY
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 29, 2021
"The bucket, that's how big it is. Third year in the league. Then you ask questions like, 'Is it married?'
And it's like, 'Yeah, bucket's married.'
'You got a family?'
'Yeah, I got a baby bucket'
And then brought the ice because we're in California.
Family." – John Madden pic.twitter.com/HAjLy1FGLv— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) December 29, 2021
John Madden's "Fat Guy Touchdown" scene in The Replacements always made me laugh pic.twitter.com/SokHYvMb5I
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) December 29, 2021
People also took the time to point out that Madden’s coaching record is the stuff of legend.
John Madden's .759 win percentage as a head coach is still the highest in NFL history (min. 100 games).
All 103 of his career wins came with the Raiders, the most by any head coach in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/OsitAyGhqI
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 29, 2021
One thing we not about to get twisted about John Madden is dude could COACH. pic.twitter.com/0HtDuPYnTJ
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (human) (@RJ_cfb) December 29, 2021
Media members also attempted to put Madden’s passing in its proper context, extolling his virtues not only as a Hall of Fame coach but also a highly influential media figure and the fact of the most popular football video game franchise ever.
I was asked my thoughts about John Madden minutes after learning of his passing. #RIP 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/N2anl8DsEd
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) December 29, 2021
John Madden means something different to basically every generation of American in the last 50 years. Coach, broadcaster, video game pioneer. That is a remarkable life.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 29, 2021
I think of John Madden and Dick Vitale as a matched pair in terms of me becoming a sports fan as a kid. They both knew a lot about the games they called, but I didn't. I was a kid. But I picked up that they were having a blast watching/talking about it and followed from there.
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) December 29, 2021
big part of why everyone my age thinks every football color commentator is wack is because we grew up with john madden. man set an unreachable standard.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) December 29, 2021
I hope John & Pat are calling a game somewhere
— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) December 29, 2021
Prominent current players also expressed condolences after the news broke.
Rest In Peace to a Legend! Prayers to the Madden Family. 🙏🏽 https://t.co/4zvhu5vEUd
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 29, 2021
Absolute legend amongst legends.
Rest In Peace Mr. Madden.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 29, 2021
Madden’s impact also transcended the football world, crossing over to other sports and firmly into the mainstream.
Rest in Paradise To the 🐐 John Madden!!!! Your legacy will continue to live on ♾!!!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 29, 2021
Few approached life with the joy of legendary football coach & broadcaster John Madden. A colleague at CBS, he was a gentleman with a boisterous sense of humor. On the sidelines & in the booth, this voluble mountain of energy was a trailblazer. A golden era ends with his passing.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) December 29, 2021
RIP to the legend John Madden ..
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) December 29, 2021
More tributes will undoubtedly roll in during the coming hours and days. In short, every media and/or football observer has at least one prominent memory of Madden, and the word “legend” is appropriately assigned to his legacy.
