John Madden, legendary NFL coach, commentator and player dies | Football

John Madden, the former coach of the National Football League (NFL) and a well-known sports reporter in the United States, died unexpectedly on Tuesday.

“We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach for the Oakland Raiders and as a reporter who has worked with every major television network, but above all he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said Roger Goodell, general manager of the Oakland Raiders Channel. NFL. Record in a statement. Madden lived to be 85.

Madden, whose playing career was interrupted by a knee injury, coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978. He led the NFL to victory in the 1977 Super Bowl.

He stopped working as a coach due to health issues and his fear of flying, but in his new role he became really popular. As a commentator, he was given a bus, “Madden cruiser” to go to various competitions.

Thanks to his popular analyzes – with lines and graphs on the photo – he was highly regarded by enthusiasts. He also linked his name to the NFL video game: Madden NFL.

The New York Times describes Madden as “one of the sport’s most celebrated ambassadors.” According to the American newspaper, Madden has reached millions of people and several generations with his coverage and the video game that bears his name.