From 1969-1978, John Madden put together one of the most successful 10-year runs in NFL history, posting the second-best winning percentage of all-time among coaches with 50 games coached and leading the then-Oakland Raiders to victory in Super Bowl 11.
But after the 1978 season, Madden shockingly retired from coaching. While the move clearly worked out for him since he became a legendary broadcaster and the namesake of EA Sports’ football video game, let’s examine why one of the best coaches in league history decided to trade in his clipboard for a microphone.
Why Did John Madden Retire From Coaching?
Madden quickly rose to prominence as the Raiders’ head coach, leading the franchise to a 12-1-1 record and AFC Championship Game appearance in his first year at the helm in 1969.
His teams never finished below .500, and he never had fewer than eight wins in any given season. Madden led Oakland to four straight seasons of 10 or more wins from 1974-77, including a 12-2 campaign and AFC title game appearance in 1974.
That year was the first of four straight trips to the AFC Championship for the Raiders, who finally broke through to win Super Bowl 11 during the 1976 season. Oakland defeated the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 32-14 in the contest, as wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff took home the game’s MVP award.
Just two years later, Madden resigned from the Raiders’ lead gig after the franchise went 9-7 and missed the playoffs for just the second time in his tenure. He cited burnout and health reasons as the reasons for stepping away from coaching. More specifically, Madden was dealing with an increasingly deteriorating ulcer condition.
“I’m retiring from football coaching, and I’m never going to coach again in my life,” Madden told reporters with tears in his eyes. “This type of thing is easy to talk about, but it’s never easy to do.
“To be honest, I don’t know what I’m going to do now, just take some time off. I have a wife and two children, and I’m going to do what they want to do for a change. I’ve never done that before.”
The move ended Madden’s legendary coaching career for good. His all-time record is 112-39-7, including a 103-32-7 mark in regular-season games.
Madden’s regular-season winning percentage ranks second all-time among NFL coaches with 50 or more games coached. Only Guy Chamberlin, who went 58-16-7 from 1922-27 across six seasons leading four different franchises, is ahead of Madden.
Madden’s Post-Coaching Days
After retiring, Madden joined CBS as a color commentator in 1979 and quickly worked his way up to being part of the network’s top football broadcasting duo with Pat Summerall.
He remained with CBS through 1993, when the network lost its NFL rights, and its employees thus became free agents.
Madden then had stints at FOX, ABC, and NBC calling NFL games. The Pro Football Hall of Famer’s voice became synonymous with high-stakes football games. He quickly became beloved for his boisterous exclamations, off-the-wall phrases, and revolutionary use of the telestrator to break down plays.
During his commentary days with CBS, Madden became involved with the EA Sports NFL video game that still bears his name.
He lent his name, voice, and creative input to Electronic Arts for a series of “John Madden Football” games, which were later called “Madden NFL.”
Madden’s involvement with the franchise is perhaps what he is now best known for, particularly among today’s younger fans who never got a chance to watch him coach or call games.
Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and he died unexpectedly on Dec. 28, 2021, at the age of 85. The following year, the NFL found a way to honor his legacy every Thanksgiving with the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration.