History of John Madden in Timeline
John Earl Madden was a highly successful American football coach and commentator. He coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, achieving a remarkable winning streak with eight playoff appearances, seven division titles, seven AFL/AFC Championship Game appearances, and a Super Bowl XI victory. His consistent success earned him the highest winning percentage among NFL coaches with 100+ games, making him a legend in the sport.
1905: Birth of Earl Russell Madden
John Madden's father, Earl Russell Madden, was born in 1905.
1917: Birth of Mary Flaherty Madden
John Madden's mother, Mary Flaherty Madden, was born in 1917.
April 10, 1936: Birth of John Madden
John Earl Madden was born in Austin, Minnesota on April 10, 1936.
1950: Madden Graduates from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
John Madden graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in 1950.
1954: Madden Graduates from Jefferson High School
John Madden graduated from Jefferson High School in 1954.
1954: Madden Plays Football for the College of San Mateo
John Madden played one season of football at the College of San Mateo in 1954.
1955: Madden Returns to College of San Mateo
John Madden returned to the College of San Mateo in 1955 after a knee injury.
1956: Madden Plays Football at Grays Harbor College
John Madden played football at Grays Harbor College in the fall of 1956.
1957: Madden Receives All-Conference Honors and Little All-Coast Accolades
In his debut season at Cal Poly, John Madden won first-team all-conference honors and was selected by United Press International for Little All-Coast Second Team accolades.
1957: Madden Joins Cal Poly Mustangs Football Team
John Madden transferred to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 1957, where he played both offense and defense for the Mustangs.
October 1958: Madden's Senior Season Cut Short Due to Injury
John Madden suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in October 1958 while playing for Cal Poly, ending his senior season early.
1958: Madden Continues Playing for Cal Poly
John Madden continued to play for the Cal Poly Mustangs in 1958.
January 3, 1959: Madden Plays in the All-American Bowl
John Madden played in the All-American Bowl in Tucson, Arizona on January 3, 1959.
August 1959: Madden's Playing Career Ends After Knee Injury
John Madden suffered a knee injury during an Eagles scrimmage in August 1959, ultimately leading to the end of his playing career.
December 26, 1959: Marriage to Virginia Fields
John Madden married Virginia Fields on December 26, 1959, in Pismo Beach, California, marking the beginning of their lifelong partnership.
1959: Madden Earns Bachelor of Science Degree
John Madden earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Cal Poly in 1959.
October 29, 1960: California Polytechnic State University Football Team Plane Crash
The California Polytechnic State University football team plane crash on October 29, 1960, deeply affected John Madden as it claimed the lives of 16 players, staff, and a booster, some of whom were close to him.
1960: Madden Begins Coaching Career
John Madden started his coaching career in 1960 as an assistant coach at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California.
1960: Connection to the 1960 Plane Crash Memorial
The entrance to the John Madden Football Center at Cal Poly will be located near the memorial for the victims of the 1960 plane crash, which claimed the lives of members of the university's football team, creating a poignant connection to the past.
1961: Madden Earns Master of Arts Degree
John Madden earned a Master of Arts in education from Cal Poly in 1961.
1961: Death of Earl Russell Madden
John Madden's father, Earl Russell Madden, passed away in 1961.
1962: Madden Promoted to Head Coach at Allan Hancock College
John Madden was promoted to head coach at Allan Hancock College in 1962 after two seasons as an assistant coach.
1963: Madden Leads Bulldogs to Successful Season
In 1963, Madden led the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs to an 8-1 season, during which they were ranked No. 9 nationally among city colleges.
1966: Madden Coaches at San Diego State
John Madden served as a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State until 1966.
1967: Madden Joins Oakland Raiders Coaching Staff
John Madden was hired as the linebackers coach for the AFL's Oakland Raiders in 1967.
February 4, 1969: Madden Named Head Coach of the Raiders
A year after joining the Raiders, Madden was named the team's head coach on February 4, 1969.
1969: Madden Becomes Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders
John Madden was named the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1969 at the age of 32, making him the youngest head coach in the AFL/NFL at the time.
1969: Raiders Lose AFL Championship Game
John Madden's first Raiders team went 12-1-1 but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the last-ever American Football League Championship Game in 1969.
1972: Madden Appears in Paul Simon's Music Video
John Madden made an appearance in the music video for Paul Simon's song "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," which was released in 1972.
1972: Raiders Lose to Steelers in Divisional Round
The Raiders, coached by John Madden, lost to the Steelers in the 1972 AFC divisional round game after Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception."
1974: Raiders Lose to Steelers in AFC Championship Game
The Raiders, having knocked out the Miami Dolphins, lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game in 1974.
1975: Raiders' Season Ends in AFC Championship Game
The Steelers once again defeated the Raiders in the AFC Championship game in 1975, preventing them from reaching the Super Bowl.
1976: Raiders Defeat Steelers in AFC Championship
The Raiders, under John Madden, finally beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship game in 1976, securing their spot in Super Bowl XI.
January 9, 1977: Madden Wins First and Only Super Bowl
John Madden won his first and only Super Bowl as a coach on January 9, 1977 when the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings.
1977: Raiders Lose AFC Championship Game to Broncos
The Raiders, entering the playoffs as a Wild Card team, lost the AFC Championship game to the Denver Broncos in 1977.
1978: Raiders' Tenth Consecutive Winning Season Under Madden
The Raiders had their tenth winning season in a row with John Madden as head coach in 1978.
1978: Raiders Fail to Qualify for Playoffs
The Raiders, coached by John Madden, failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in his tenure in 1978.
January 4, 1979: Madden Retires from Coaching
John Madden announced his retirement from coaching on January 4, 1979, citing health concerns and burnout.
1979: Madden Begins Career as Color Commentator
After retiring from coaching, John Madden began a successful career as a color commentator for NFL telecasts in 1979.
1979: Onset of Madden's Aviophobia
In 1979, after experiencing a panic attack on a flight from Tampa, Florida, John Madden developed a fear of flying, leading him to avoid air travel for the rest of his life.
1979: Madden Joins CBS as Color Commentator
John Madden's broadcasting career began in 1979 when he joined CBS as a color commentator.
1981: Madden Teams Up with Pat Summerall
In 1981, John Madden was paired with Pat Summerall to form CBS's top football broadcasting duo.
1982: Madden Hosts "Saturday Night Live"
In 1982, John Madden hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live."
1984: Madden Creates the "All-Madden" Team
In 1984, John Madden created the "All-Madden" team to highlight players who embodied his vision of football.
1984: Initial Planning of Madden NFL as an Educational Tool
In 1984, during initial discussions with EA founder Trip Hawkins, John Madden envisioned the Madden NFL video game as an innovative educational tool to teach and test football plays.
1987: Introduction of the Madden Cruiser
In 1987, Greyhound Lines partnered with John Madden, providing him with a customized bus, the Madden Cruiser, in exchange for advertising and appearances.
1988: Launch of John Madden Football
In 1988, John Madden partnered with EA Sports/Electronic Arts, lending his name, voice, and creative vision to the iconic John Madden Football video game series, later renamed Madden NFL.
1993: Madden and Summerall's Last Full Season with CBS
John Madden and Pat Summerall continued to work together on CBS until the end of the 1993 NFL season.
January 23, 1994: Madden and Summerall's Final CBS Telecast
On January 23, 1994, John Madden and Pat Summerall called their final CBS telecast together, which was the 1993 NFC Championship Game.
1994: Madden Joins Fox Sports
After CBS lost the rights to broadcast NFC games, John Madden signed with Fox in 1994.
1994: Madden's 10th Anniversary All-Madden Team
In 1994, John Madden created a special 10th Anniversary All-Madden team.
1997: Madden's All-Madden Super Bowl Team
John Madden also created an All-Madden Super Bowl team in 1997.
1997: Madden Begins Regular KCBS Radio Appearances
John Madden began appearing regularly on KCBS radio in 1997.
1998: Fox Signs Eight-Year NFL Contract
In 1998, Fox signed an eight-year deal for NFL broadcasting rights.
1999: Madden Appears on "The Simpsons"
John Madden made a guest appearance on an episode of "The Simpsons" in 1999.
2000: Madden's All-Time All-Madden Team
To celebrate the best players in his view, John Madden created an All-Time All-Madden team in 2000.
September 11, 2001: Madden Uses His Bus to Help After 9/11
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City, John Madden used his Madden Cruiser to provide transportation assistance, demonstrating his compassion and willingness to help.
2001: Madden Stops Picking the All-Madden Team
John Madden stopped selecting players for the All-Madden team in 2001 when he left for ABC.
2002: Madden Leaves Thanksgiving Day Games
After moving to ABC in 2002, John Madden stopped announcing Thanksgiving Day games.
2002: Madden Joins ABC's Monday Night Football
John Madden joined Al Michaels on ABC's Monday Night Football in 2002.
2003: Fox Attempts to Cut Programming Costs
By 2003, Fox was attempting to reduce its programming costs due to financial losses related to its NFL contract.
2005: Madden Joins NBC Sports
John Madden joined NBC in 2005 to provide color commentary for Sunday night NFL games.
2005: Madden's Final Monday Night Football Telecast
On ABC's final Monday Night Football telecast in 2005, John Madden made remarks similar to those he made during his final CBS telecast with Pat Summerall.
2006: Madden Begins Broadcasting for NBC
John Madden began broadcasting for NBC at the start of the 2006 NFL season.
2006: Madden Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
John Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
October 13, 2008: Madden Misses First Broadcast in 476 Weeks
On October 13, 2008, it was announced that John Madden would miss the October 19 Sunday Night Football game, breaking his streak of 476 consecutive broadcast appearances.
November 2, 2008: Madden Returns to the Broadcast Booth
After missing one game, John Madden returned to the broadcast booth on November 2, 2008.
February 1, 2009: Madden Calls His Final Game
John Madden's final game as a broadcaster was Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.
April 16, 2009: Madden Officially Retires from Broadcasting
On April 16, 2009, John Madden officially retired from broadcasting after a long and successful career.
2009: Retirement from Broadcasting but Continued Involvement with Madden NFL
Despite retiring from broadcasting in 2009, John Madden continued to contribute to the Madden NFL series, shaping its development and solidifying its legacy.
2009: Madden Retires from Broadcasting
John Madden retired from broadcasting in 2009 after a long and successful career.
2010: NFL Changes Sunday Night Football Scheduling
Until 2010, the NFL did not schedule Sunday Night Football games for one week in October to avoid overlapping with the World Series.
2011: Death of Mary Flaherty Madden
John Madden's mother, Mary Flaherty Madden, passed away in 2011.
2012: Madden's Perspective on Madden NFL as a Tool for Learning and Engagement
John Madden, in 2012, reaffirmed his belief that Madden NFL served as a valuable tool for people to learn and actively engage with the intricacies of football at a sophisticated level.
2015: Madden Takes Hiatus from KCBS Radio
After experiencing health issues, John Madden took a break from his regular KCBS radio appearances in 2015.
June 2016: Success of Madden's Bocce Tournament
By June 2016, John Madden's annual bocce tournament, co-hosted with Steve Mariucci, had raised a remarkable $5 million for charitable organizations supporting the Special Olympics and diabetes research.
2017: Madden Returns to KCBS Radio
John Madden returned to making appearances on KCBS radio in 2017.
August 2018: Madden Reduces Radio Appearances
In August 2018, John Madden decided to scale back on his regular radio appearances.
2018: Donation of the Original Madden Cruiser to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
In 2018, John Madden donated the original Madden Cruiser to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where it was meticulously restored to its original condition, preserving a piece of sports history.
September 2021: Establishment of Scholarships at Cal Poly
Starting in September 2021, John Madden began funding six scholarships at his alma mater, Cal Poly, supporting students from various East Bay high schools and leaving a lasting educational legacy.
December 25, 2021: "All Madden" Documentary Premieres
On December 25, 2021, Fox aired "All Madden," a documentary that explored John Madden's life and career.
December 28, 2021: Death of John Madden
John Madden passed away on December 28, 2021.
2021: Passing of John Madden and Enduring Legacy in Madden NFL
John Madden's passing in 2021 marked the end of an era, but his legacy lived on through the Madden NFL series, where he remained a beloved figure for contemporary football fans.
June 1, 2022: Madden NFL 23 Honors John Madden with Tribute Cover
On June 1, 2022, EA Sports paid tribute to John Madden's enduring legacy by featuring him on the cover of all editions of Madden NFL 23, commemorating his impact on the franchise.
October 2022: Donation for John Madden Football Center at Cal Poly
In October 2022, John Madden made a significant donation to Cal Poly for the construction of a state-of-the-art football facility, the John Madden Football Center, enhancing the university's athletic programs.
2022: NFL Honors John Madden on Thanksgiving
The NFL began honoring John Madden during Thanksgiving games in 2022.
2029: Projected Opening of the John Madden Football Center
The John Madden Football Center at Cal Poly is projected to open in 2029, featuring advanced amenities and serving as a testament to Madden's legacy.