John Madden

Lore & Background

After retiring from coaching, Madden was a color commentator for NFL telecasts from 1979 to 2009 and won 16 Sports Emmy Awards. Madden appeared on all four major American television networks, providing commentary for games broadcast by CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC. He also lent his name, expertise, and commentary to the Madden NFL video game series, which became the best-selling American football video game franchise. Madden was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

In Their Own Story

The practice field at Candlestick Park was a swirl of fog and shouting voices as John Madden paced the sideline, his headset askew. He stopped abruptly, pointing a thick finger toward the quarterback. 'Joe! You see that? That's not just coverage; that's an invitation!' he bellowed, his voice cutting through the cold San Francisco air. The players gathered around, eyes wide, as Madden drew furiously in the mud with a stick, explaining the geometry of the blitz. It wasn't just about running plays; it was about understanding the soul of the opponent. In that moment, the future Hall of Famer knew this team had the heart to go all the way.

Reader's Guide

John Madden never coached the San Francisco 49ers. He was head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978. His only Super Bowl win was with the Raiders in Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings. He retired from coaching on January 4, 1979, due to a troublesome ulcer and occupational burnout.

Did You Know?

• Madden was drafted in the 21st round (244th overall) by the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1958 but never played a regular-season game due to injury.
• He is the coach with the most wins in Raiders history.
• Madden's overall winning percentage, including playoff games, ranks second in league history behind Guy Chamberlin and is the highest among those who coached 100 games.