Why is John Madden so famous? Examining the legacy of legendary NFL head coach

John Madden’s death on December 28, 2021, sent the football world into mourning. Tributes were made in every NFL game that followed, and everyone invested in the sport felt that they’d lost a close friend. After all, his impact on the game as a coach, legend, and icon spanned generations.

He will be a lasting influence in the game, even if he did not make it to any official NFL roster. He participated in the 1959 Philadelphia Eagles training camp after being selected in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL draft. Unfortunately, he did not make the cut after suffering a knee injury.

But while his playing career didn’t last long, John Madden left an indelible imprint as a larger-than-life figure from the sidelines. His distinct speaking style, jovial demeanor, and mastery of the sport make his name synonymous with football.

The football game that immortalized John Madden

Even casual fans would associate his surname with a video game that lets any player live out their football dreams. It was called "John Madden Football" and debuted for the Apple II computer in 1988. The inaugural version drew plays from Madden’s playbook with the Oakland Raiders, while San Francisco Chronicle writer Frank Cooney assigned player rankings.

Since then, Electronic Arts and its collaborators have developed a new game version almost yearly. Likewise, the Madden rankings became a big deal that EA would award a special package to players with an overall ranking of 99, the so-called “99 Club.” Conversely, those who felt like their rankings were low used social media to raise their concerns.

Adversely, the eponymous video game puts him at the forefront whenever the “Madden Curse” is perceived to be in effect. Urban legend tells that something unfortunate happens to the player who features on the game’s cover. The cover did coincide with the declines of Shaun Alexander, Garrison Hearst, Peyton Hillis, and Vince Young.

However, other players like Calvin Johnson and Patrick Mahomes had memorable seasons after their turn on the cover. Johnson established a single-season record for receiving yards after the release of Madden NFL 13. Meanwhile, Mahomes won Super Bowl LIV while becoming the cover of Madden NFL 20. Tom Brady also won the league MVP despite being the face of Madden NFL 18.

While gameplay and graphics have improved, Madden remains the galvanizing element of all versions. It’s either his voice lending the simulated commentary or helping controllers make decisions with “Madden’s Pick.” Fittingly so, he became the cover of Madden NFL 23, and they chose a picture of him celebrating his victory in Super Bowl XI.

John Madden as the voice of the NFL

John Madden is more than just a guy with a game named after him. He was an icon in the broadcast booth, making him deserving of being a household name. His partnership with Pat Summerall will take a lot of work to beat, considering they did eight Super Bowls together.

With millions of spectators tuned in to the big game, it’s no secret that their popularity has grown. He then parlayed his fame into product endorsements for Toyota, Verizon, and Ace Hardware, to name a few.

Aside from the Super Bowl, they have called hundreds of games as CBS’ NFL broadcasting duo. Madden stayed with CBS until 1993 and transferred to FOX Sports a year later. He also worked for ABC Sports and NBC Sports before retiring from the broadcast booth in 2009. Joining him in those years was another broadcasting legend, Al Michaels.

Aside from his lengthy career on the microphone, he had a distinct style of highlighting plays with words like “Boom!” for collisions and “Doink!” for fumbles and missed field goals. His extensive use of the telestrator helped it become a constant fixture in sports media. Of course, who could forget his awarding of roasted turkey legs to the best players during Thanksgiving?

John Madden: Football genius

There’s a rave about young NFL head coaches nowadays. However, Madden started the trend when Al Davis named him Raiders head coach at 32 years old. He held the position for ten years, making the playoffs eight times. He still led the Raiders to winning records (8-4-2 in 1971 and 9-7 in 1978) during the years he fell short of a postseason berth.

Aside from winning Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders also played in seven AFL/AFC Championship games under him. Madden still holds the record for most victories by a Raiders coach, while his winning percentage is the highest among coaches with at least 100 games on their resume. He achieved that feat while competing against other coaching legends in that era.

Be it the coach who achieved success, the broadcaster who educated audiences, or the video game voice that entertained fans, John Madden’s popularity outlived him. His legacy is so profound that it would be difficult to imagine the sport without his blueprint.