One of the most legendary and recognizable names in NFL history has passed away.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, John Madden unexpectedly passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 85.
Madden, whose name has been and will forever be most known for the sports most popular video game being named after him got his start in football early on, becoming a high school football star, developing into an all-conference lineman in college. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round (yes, there were that many rounds back then) in 1958, but suffered a career0ending knee injury before he got a chance to play.
Madden’s love for learning and teaching came due to his injury, where he religiously watched film, eventually becoming an assistant coach at a small California college, eventually working up the ranks to take an NFL job as a position coach with the Raiders and later on went on to become their head coach.
Madden won a Super Bowl as coach of the Radiers and after retiring as the franchises winningest coach, went on to become a color commentator on NFL broadcasts.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his coaching career and retired from commentating in 2008.
