After 30 years of football announcing, John Madden has called it quits and has decided to retire from the world of sports broadcasting.
Madden called his final game on Feb. 1, 2009 from NBC in a telecast of Super Bowl XLIII, which was his 11th Super Bowl as a broadcaster. His decision was made in the final seconds of the game.
At the age of 73, Madden is ending his six-year contract with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” to spend more time with his family, the initial inspiration for his retirement. Since Madden only traveled by bus because of his fear of flying, he spent the majority of his time on the road, away from his family for seasons at a time.
“John Madden was known for traveling on the bus,” said Tony Jermin, a sophomore advertising major. “That’s what made him an interesting character; he literately went everywhere on that thing [bus].”
NBC Sports Chief Dick Ebersol, was surprised by Madden’s retirement, and even offered to allow Madden to call games only in September and November and to take October and December off so he could spend more time with his family.
Madden turned down his offer.
Madden has had a long run with the world of football. He began his career as a linebacker coach for the Oakland Raiders in 1967 and was made head coach two years later at the age of 33.
After bringing the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory, Madden retired in 1979 from being a coach and stepped into the world of sports broadcasting. He worked for CBS for several years, going on to join FOX in 1994, then ABC’s “Monday Night Football” in 2002.
He made his last stop, joining NBC in 2006 to work during prime-time Sunday’s games.
Madden is the only figure to ever have worked as the lead football analyst for all four major T.V networks.
In 2006, he was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his coaching career. He also won 16 Emmy Awards for the most Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality.
John Madden is known for his colorful description of the NFL’s games and for how quick he was able to use a telestrator to illustrate a play that popularized the technology.
“Nobody had sayings like Mr. Madden,” said Tyson Jewell, a junior engineering major at the University of Maryland. “It never failed that every game that he would say something in gibberish when he got really excited. I remember the first time I heard him, which was a couple of years ago, he sounded so enthusiastic like he really loved the sport or what he was doing.”
His announcing style was exaggerated with his ability to throw in action words such as “boom,” “whap,” and “bang” through out the game.
“Madden as a sports announcer was exciting but his big contribution was the Madden game series,” stated Derrick Hall, a sophomore architecture major.
Madden’s No. 1 selling sports video game, “Madden NFL,” from Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA Sports) will continue their relationship with John Madden, despite the retirement. Selling more then 65 million copies since its release 20 years ago gives EA Sports the determination to keep Madden’s voice alive outside of the booth.
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