Lasting Legacy of John Madden: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by John Madden—a timeline of influence.

John Madden was a highly successful NFL coach and commentator. As head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, he achieved remarkable success, including a Super Bowl XI victory. Madden never had a losing season and holds the highest winning percentage among NFL coaches with over 100 games coached, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest coaches ever. He later became a well-known and respected football commentator.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Legacy & Impact

1984: Madden envisions the game as a teaching tool

During initial planning conversations with Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins in 1984, John Madden envisioned the program as a tool for teaching and testing plays.

1984: Creation of the "All-Madden" Team

In 1984, John Madden created the "All-Madden" team, a group of players who Madden thought represented football and played the game the way he thought it should be played. NFL coach John Robinson advised Madden to create it.

1988: John Madden Football series is created

In 1988, John Madden lent his name, voice and creative input to the John Madden Football series of video games by Electronic Arts, later called Madden NFL.

1994: 10th Anniversary All-Madden team

In 1994, John Madden created a special 10th Anniversary All-Madden team.

1997: All-Madden Super Bowl Team

In 1997, John Madden created an All-Madden Super Bowl Team.

2000: All-Time All-Madden Team

In 2000, John Madden created an All-Time All-Madden team.

2002: Stopped Announcing Thanksgiving Day Games

In 2002, John Madden stopped announcing the Thanksgiving Day games after he moved to ABC, but the tradition of awarding a turkey or turducken to the winning team continued.

2006: Induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame

In 2006, John Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to football as a coach and commentator.

2012: Madden's view on Madden NFL

In 2012, John Madden stated that Madden NFL was "a way for people to learn the game [of football] and participate in the game at a pretty sophisticated level".

2015: Galloping Gobbler Tradition Continued Until 2015

Until 2015, Fox, CBS, the NFL Network, and later NBC presented the Galloping Gobbler to the game's "Most Valuable" player during Thanksgiving Day games, continuing the tradition John Madden started.

2018: Donation of the 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 restored to its original condition.

December 25, 2021: Fox premieres "All Madden" documentary

On December 25, 2021, the Fox network presented All Madden, a documentary highlighting Madden's rise to stardom as an NFL coach and broadcaster. The film premiered prior to a Christmas Day contest on Fox between the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay.

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December 28, 2021: John Madden's Death

On December 28, 2021, John Madden passed away. He was an American professional football coach and sports commentator in the National Football League (NFL).

2021: Death of John Madden

Up until his death in 2021, John Madden was better known as the face of Madden to contemporary football fans than as a Super Bowl-winning coach and broadcaster.

June 1, 2022: Madden to be featured on Madden NFL 23 cover

On Madden Day, June 1, 2022, EA Sports announced that all editions of Madden NFL 23 would feature Madden on the cover in tribute of his legacy. The next gen version cover being a picture of Madden celebrating his victory as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI, and the All Madden Edition cover being based on the cover of the series' 1st installment, John Madden Football.

October 2022: Madden Donates to Cal Poly Football Facility

In October 2022, Cal Poly and the Madden family announced that John Madden had donated a leading contribution toward a total $30-million football facility on the Cal Poly campus.

2022: John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration

Beginning in 2022, the NFL honored John Madden every Thanksgiving by dubbing the entire tripleheader of games the "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration". A recording of Madden was played before each of the Thanksgiving games in 2022, and has continued since, along with the awarding of a "Madden Player of the Game" after each game, with NBC continuing on the tradition of awarding the turkey legs to its players of the game.

April 2025: Filming begins for biographical film, "Madden"

In April 2025, filming is scheduled to start for a biographical film, Madden, written and directed by David O. Russell and starring Nicolas Cage as Madden.

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