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The NFL announced Friday a public
memorial service is being planned for legendary football coach and
broadcaster John Madden on Feb. 15 in Oakland, California.
“The Madden family has been
overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support during the
difficult time following John Madden’s passing,” the league’s
statement read.
Further information about the memorial
service, which comes following Madden’s death Dec. 28 at the age of 85, will be released in the “near future.”
Madden was the epitome of a football
lifer. Growing up in the Bay Area of California, he played in high school and college before getting selected
by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1958 draft.
After a knee injury ended his
playing career before he took a snap at the NFL level, he shifted
his focus to coaching. He made stops at Allan Hancock College and San
Diego State at the collegiate level before joining the Oakland
Raiders’ staff in 1967.
The Raiders promoted Madden to
head coach in 1969. He compiled a tremendous 103-32-7
regular-season record across 10 years and added a 9-7 mark in the
playoffs, headlined by a triumph in Super Bowl XI.
Madden transitioned to the broadcast booth after his coaching career and became the gold standard for NFL color commentators thanks to his deep knowledge
of the sport and his infectious energy. His partnership with
play-by-play man Pat Summerall set the bar for football telecasts.
To the latest generation, the Pro
Football Hall of Famer is best known for the EA Sports video game
that bears his name. The series began in 1988 and continues to run
strong into the 2020s.
The NFL honored him in stadiums
before last weekend’s games and during each of the Week 17 TV broadcasts.
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