Rest In Peace John Madden

John Madden and Kenny Stabler helped lead the Raiders to Super Bowl XI title.

RIP to a true NFL legend . . . . . 

John Madden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-78 and led them to their first ever Super Bowl title back in the 1976 season when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14 in Super Bowl XI at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. 

 

 

 

 

 

So many legendary players on those Oakland Raiders teams . . . Kenny "The Snake" Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Henry Lawrence, Mark van Eeghen, Cliff Branch, Dave Casper, Otis Sistrunk, Jack Tatum, Phil Villapiano, Ted Hendricks, George Blanda, George Atkinson, Willie Brown, Lester Hayes, Daryl Lamonica, Marv Hubbard, Ray Guy and so many others.

The rivalry between the Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970's was one of the best ever in pro football history in what many consider to have been the "Golden Age" of the NFL. 

The Immaculate Reception game in the 1972 AFC Playoffs . . .  The 1975 AFC Championship Game three years later in Pittsburgh . . . the Raiders lost both of those games, but then in 1976, they blasted the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game and then went on to win Super Bowl XI. 

Following his coaching career, he went on to do commercials for many products, most notably Miller Lite beer commercials. And of course, he became a color commentator/analyst along with Pat Summerall on CBS TV broadcasts (and later Fox Sports) of NFL games. He also would do that role with Al Michaels on ABC Monday Night Football and then NBC Sunday Night Football for many years until retiring after the 2008 season from that role. 

Madden Football video game is another one of the staples so many people came to know about Madden. And of course, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2006.

RIP to a true legend.