'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On Tuesday evening, news broke that former NFL head coach and broadcaster John Madden had unexpectedly passed away at the age of 85.
His passing brought a flurry of statements and social media posts from current and former NFL players, all talking about how John Madden influenced their lives.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion and now quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady, was one of the NFL players who posted on social media about Madden.
Brady posted the following message on Instagram recalling how John Madden called the game for Super Bowl XXXVI, the championship that kickstarted the New England Patriots dynasty in 2002.
Trending
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
"John called our first Super Bowl. He was always so good to me. RIP to a legend of our game."
Brady also sent his condolences to the Madden family after the sudden passing of one of the NFL's greatest minds.
John Madden was a larger than life presence in the NFL
John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-1978, earning 103 wins during his tenure as head coach, including winning Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 32-14.
Madden, to this day, still has the highest winning percentage (.759) in NFL history for a head coach.
Madden's presence in the NFL continued for several more decades after he last coached a game as he became a legendary broadcaster.
John Madden called 11 Super Bowl games on four different television networks.
In fact, in Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' first Super Bowl win in February 2002 over the Los Angeles Rams, Madden said that Brady gave him "goosebumps" as he muscled out the win.
The younger generation may remember the 85-year old for fronting the popular Madden NFL video game franchise.
John Madden's sudden passing comes just days after FOX broadcasted the documentary "All Madden" on Christmas Day.
The program gave insight into Madden's life, career and synopsis from current and former NFL players and coaches.
In light of Madden's passing, FOX announced that they will be re-showing the "All Madden" documentary on Wednesday and Thursday evenings so that more NFL fans can watch and re-live some of Madden's greatest moments.
