John Madden

A legendary coach with one of the highest winning percentages in NFL history.

John Earl Madden was an American professional football coach and sports commentator whose career spanned the NFL from the late 1960s through 2009. Born in Austin, Minnesota, he led the Oakland Raiders as head coach from 1969 to 1978, securing a Super Bowl XI title and eight playoff appearances without ever suffering a losing season. Following his retirement, he became the face of NFL broadcasting for three decades across CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC, earning 16 Sports Emmy Awards. His name was subsequently attached to the best-selling American football video game franchise in history, immortalizing his expertise and commentary style for generations of players.

Quick Facts

Career number

Career position

Offensive tackle

Born

10 April 1936

Birthplace

Austin, Minnesota, U.S.

Died

28 December 2021

Place of death

Pleasanton, California, U.S.

High school

Jefferson (Daly City, California)

College

Oregon (1953–1954)
San Mateo (1954–1955)
Grays Harbor (1956)
Cal Poly (1957–1958)

Lore & Background

Madden's path from player to legend began with injury. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round (244th overall) in 1958, a torn knee ligament during his first training camp in August 1959 ended his playing career before he ever appeared in a regulation professional game. He guided the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, becoming the youngest head coach in the AFL/NFL at age 32. His tenure included seven division titles and a Super Bowl XI victory over the Minnesota Vikings with a 32–14 score on January 9, 1977.

However, frustration often defined his playoff runs; he lost five AFL/AFC Championship Games (1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1974), including the infamous "Immaculate Reception" loss to Pittsburgh in 1972 and three consecutive conference title defeats to the Steelers between 1972 and 1974. Despite these heartbreaks, he retired on January 4, 1979, due to an ulcer and burnout, leaving behind a record of 103 wins, 32 losses, and 7 ties.

Reader's Guide

He holds the highest winning percentage among NFL head coaches with at least 100 games played, a mark that ranks second in league history behind Guy Chamberlin when including playoffs. His coaching resume features seven AFL/AFC Championship Game appearances and eight playoff trips in ten seasons. As a player at Cal Poly, he earned first-team all-conference honors as an offensive tackle and was selected for the Little All-Coast Second Team after his junior season in 1957.

In the video game realm, his name became synonymous with the best-selling American football franchise, where his commentary style defined the experience for millions. Fans recall moments such as the 1972 playoff loss at Pittsburgh, settled by Franco Harris's "Immaculate Reception", and his only NFL title, a 32–14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. His career statistics are exact: 10 full seasons as head coach, a Super Bowl win at age 42, and 16 Sports Emmy Awards for his broadcasting work.

Did You Know?

Madden played in the All-American Bowl on January 3, 1959, but his professional playing career ended in August 1959 due to a torn knee ligament before he ever played in a regulation NFL game.
He became the youngest head coach in AFL/NFL history at age 32 when named by the Oakland Raiders on February 4, 1969.
Madden never had a losing season as a head coach, though his winning percentage (103–32–7, .750) is not the highest among coaches with at least 100 games—Guy Chamberlin holds that distinction.
His senior research project at Cal Poly focused on using weights to increase strides and speed in athletic training.