Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who is John Madden?
John Earl Madden was an American entrepreneur, sports commentator, and football coach who became widely known chiefly for his activities as a commentator in the National Football League (NFL).
While in high school, Madden began his career as an American football player and slowly became known as a talented player. Upon graduation from high school, he started playing football at the College of San Mateo. After playing for one season, he was given a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.
Unfortunately, his time at the University of Oregon wasn’t as blissful as expected. He sustained a knee injury, was redshirted, and even had to undergo surgery. After he had recovered, he returned to the field.
His zeal and skill on the field helped distinguish him as a versatile player. When the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in 1958, it was assumed that he would enjoy a prosperous career as a professional football player. Sadly, this did not occur as he sustained another knee injury, which stopped his budding career.
Despite this, Madden was determined to play an essential role on the field. He obtained a teaching degree and became a football coach. When Madden eventually retired from being a coach, he began his career as a sports commentator and analyst.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | John Earl Madden |
| Popular Name: | John Madden, Madden |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | April 10, 1936 – December 28, 2021 |
| Age: | 85 years (late) |
| Parents: | Mary Margaret Madden (mother) and Earl Russel Madden (father) |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Birth Place: | Austin, Minnesota, United States of America |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | American |
| Education: | Jefferson High School |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Virginia Fields |
| Children: | Joseph Madden and Michael Madden |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $200 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Sports Commentating, Professional Football Coach |
| Height: | 6ft4 (1.93m) |
| Weight: | 95kg (209lbs) |
Early Life And Career Information
On April 10, 1936, John Madden was born to Mary and Earl Madden. When he was still young, his father moved his family to California, where Madden spent most of his youth.
In high school, Madden became interested in football and soon joined his school’s football team. After his graduation in 1954, the high school football star immediately started playing for the College of San Mateo.
He soon received a football scholarship from the University of Oregon. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Madden sustained a knee injury and had to undergo surgery which caused him to be redshirted. After he recovered, he returned to the pitch.
His talent and skill on the field attracted the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. Madden was drafted to play for them in 1958. Sadly, tragedy struck again as he sustained a career-ending knee injury during training camp.
Since he could no longer play on the pitch, he took up a position at Allan Hancock College as an assistant coach in 1960. In about two years, he became the head coach.
In 1963, he was hired as an assistant defensive coach at San Diego State University. He got the opportunity to work closely with Don Coryell, whom Madden often acknowledged as the reason for his success during his coaching days in the NFL.
In 1967, Madden was hired by the Oakland Raiders as the linebackers coach. Two years later, Madden became the youngest head coach in NFL history after the former head coach resigned. Although he soon became the coach with the most wins in the Raider’s history, Madden was forced to retire in 1977 when it became evident that coaching was affecting his health.
In 1979, Madden joined CBS and began his long and successful career as a color commentator and sports analyst. He teamed up with Pat Summerall in 1981, and the duo worked together at CBS for a few years. During this time, Electronic Arts Sports featured Madden’s name and voice in a video game series.
In 1994, Madden and Summerall joined the Fox Network and continued their coverage of the NFL. Madden’s contract with the network reportedly paid him better than any NFL player. However, he left in 2002 and joined ABC sports. In 2005, Madden joined NBC sports, becoming one of the most prominent television personalities in the world of American sports.
A year after Madden joined NBS sports, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He eventually retired from being a sports commentator in 2009.
On December 28, 2021, John Madden passed away at age 85. The cause of his death is still undisclosed to the general public.
John Madden’s Net Worth
Although Madden’s tenure on the field was very brief due to several health reasons, he still had a very illustrious career birthed from his affection for sports. He was the first broadcaster to have ever worked for all four major networks: CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox.
John Madden’s net worth was $200 million.
Lessons From The Life Of John Madden
Never Give Up On Your Passion
“Nothing jazzes me up like football. I’ve acquired more passion over the years, not less. Not to love it wouldn’t make sense.” ~John Madden.
During his rookie days, Madden suffered many setbacks that should have discouraged him from pursuing his passion for football. Despite this, he preserved and pushed forward, finding ways to scale the various obstacles.
Never let the difficulties you face force you to give up on your passion. Make the best use of whatever situation life throws at you.
Discipline Is The Key To Success
“Discipline in football occurs on the field, not off it. Discipline is knowing what you’re supposed to do and doing it as best as you can.” ~John Madden.
A great lesson that can be learned from Madden’s life is the importance of being disciplined. While on the field, Madden distinguished himself as a dedicated, disciplined, and versatile player, which significantly boosted his career even after he stopped coaching.
Do the best you can and work hard towards achieving your goals. One of the keys to success is discipline.
