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NFL legend John Madden unexpectedly handed away Tuesday morning. The Corridor of Fame coach, broadcaster and online game creator was 85 years previous.
Madden is one probably the most influential figures in NFL historical past. His extremely profitable teaching profession with the Raiders earned him a spot within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2006. Madden additionally loved a highly-decorated 30-year broadcasting profession that included 11 Tremendous Bowls as a shade analyst. He fashioned an iconic broadcasting partnership with Pat Summerall, as the 2 known as eight Tremendous Bowls collectively. Madden, who famously traveled to video games in his “Madden Cruiser,” was additionally the creator of the long-lasting online game that bears his identify.
“On behalf of all the NFL household, we prolong our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their households,” mentioned NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Everyone knows him because the Corridor of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who labored for each main community, however greater than something, he was a loyal husband, father and grandfather.
“No person cherished soccer greater than Coach. He was soccer. He was an unimaginable sounding board to me and so many others. There’ll by no means be one other John Madden, and we are going to perpetually be indebted to him for all he did to make soccer and the NFL what it’s at the moment.”
Whereas he might have been enshrined a lot earlier as a contributor, Madden insisted that if he ever obtained Corridor of Fame induction, it will be for his work as an NFL coach. Madden received his want almost three a long time after he coached his closing recreation. Madden’s bust sits alongside different legendary coaches that features contemporaries resembling Chuck Noll, Tom Landry, Hank Stram, Paul Brown, Bud Grant and Don Shula. It additionally sits alongside the bust of Madden’s teaching idol, Vince Lombardi, who Madden coached towards as an assistant on Oakland’s employees throughout Inexperienced Bay’s win in Tremendous Bowl II, Lombardi’s closing recreation on the sideline.
“All the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame household mourns the passing of Coach Madden,” Corridor of Fame president Jim Porter mentioned in an announcement. “Few, if any, have had as nice an impression on the game {of professional} soccer on so many alternative ranges as Coach Madden. He was firstly a coach. He was a coach on the sphere, a coach within the broadcast sales space and a coach in life.
“He was dearly cherished by hundreds of thousands of soccer followers worldwide. Whereas it is a very unhappy day, it is also a day we must always rejoice the lifetime of a person who introduced pleasure by means of the sport of soccer to hundreds of thousands.
“Our ideas and prayers are with Coach Madden’s spouse, Virginia; their sons, Joe and Mike; and all the Madden household throughout this tough time. The Corridor of Fame will perpetually guard Coach Madden’s legacy. The Corridor of Fame flag shall be flown at half-staff in his reminiscence.”
Madden compiled a .759 profitable share because the Raiders coach, the best share in league historical past amongst coaches which have gained 100 video games. Throughout his 10 seasons because the Raiders head coach, Madden led Oakland to the playoffs eight instances. The Raiders by no means had a dropping season beneath Madden, who posted a 103-32-7 file as Oakland’s coach. Madden coached in iconic video games that included the “Immaculate Reception,” “Ghost to the Put up,” “Sea of Fingers” and the “Holy Curler.”
“The Raiders Household is deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary John Madden,” the Raiders mentioned in an announcement. “Few people meant as a lot to the expansion and recognition {of professional} soccer as Coach Madden, whose impression on the sport each on and off the sphere was immeasurable.”
Madden coached a bevy of Corridor of Fame gamers that features Ken Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda, Dave Casper, Gene Upshaw, Artwork Shell, Jim Otto, Bob Brown, Willie Davis, Ted Hendricks, Ron Combine, and Ray Man. Cliff Department, a star receiver beneath Madden, is a senior finalist for induction in 2022. Madden was introduced into the Corridor of Fame by former Raiders proprietor Al Davis, who in 1969 employed the then-32-year-old Madden to be his coach.
The Raiders appeared in seven AFC title video games beneath Madden that included 5 straight from 1973-77. And after falling brief in his first 5 AFC title video games, Madden and the Raiders lastly broke by means of in 1976. After a 13-1 common season, the Raiders dethroned the Steelers — the staff that defeated Oakland within the earlier two AFC title video games — to punch their first ticket to the Tremendous Bowl. In Tremendous Bowl XI, the Raiders dominated the Vikings behind a punishing dashing assault and equally devastating protection. Oakland obtained an MVP efficiency from Biletnikoff, who arrange three of the Raiders’ 4 offensive touchdowns. The Raiders gained 32-14, and Madden and the Raiders have been champions for the primary time.
“They’ll by no means take it away from you,” Madden mentioned of his Tremendous Bowl win. “Perhaps the truth that we chased it so lengthy made it larger to us. It was the best feeling on this planet. There’s nothing that may beat it.”
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