NFL legend John Madden has died at 85 years old.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter shared the news via a statement that the NFL released announcing that the former Raiders coach passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shared in the statement from the NFL. “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.”
With a coaching record of 103-32-7, Madden was the second-most-winning coach in NFL history, only behind the equally legendary Vince Lombardi. He was also the voice behind football for an entire generation with his broadcasting contributions not only to real NFL games, but also to the Madden video game series that shares his namesake.
“Nobody loved football more than Coach,” Goodell continued in the statement. “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.”
John Madden will be remembered by the entire football community as a person whose voice sent ripples across the very fabric of sports.
