BOOM!

DocTee
Apr 16 2009 09:04 AM

John Madden, 73, announces retirement:

John Madden is calling it quits.

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NBC said Thursday that the burly ex-coach who has been one pro football's top broadcast analysts has decided to retire. The 73-year-old Madden has been working for the past three seasons on NBC's Sunday night NFL game. His last telecast was the Super Bowl between Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Since he left coaching in 1979, the former Oakland Raiders coach has worked as an analyst for all four broadcast networks. His "Madden NFL Football" is the top-selling sports video game of all time.

Madden is reluctant to fly and often traveled to games in a specially-equipped bus. He said in a statement that he still loves all aspects of the job, "but I know this is the right time."

Edgy DC
Apr 16 2009 09:05 AM

Good for him.

Nymr83
Apr 16 2009 09:07 AM

I wonder who will replace him, there are plenty of NFL anouncers that i can't stand.

Frayed Knot
Apr 16 2009 10:55 AM

Got out of coaching quicker than most before he could get old and stale (said he was away from his family too much) and now does the same with announcing.

A large guy like that heading for his mid-70s may have looked at the tale of Harry Kalas and others we discussed in the Harry thread who died on the road (sometimes alone in motel rooms) and figured that all that money and the constant adulation is worth only so much.

Edgy DC
Apr 16 2009 11:03 AM

I always thought the Darryl Stingley case took the edge off of coaching for him.

HahnSolo
Apr 16 2009 11:56 AM

="Edgy DC":6go3b4yw]I always thought the Darryl Stingley case took the edge off of coaching for him.[/quote:6go3b4yw]

Never thought of that, but that incident was in the preseason of 1978, Madden's final year as coach.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Apr 16 2009 12:01 PM

I associate Madden with Tim McCarver as the kind of "new style" jock analysts who came into prominence in the 80s. These guys didn;t dumb it down but actually endeavored to enlighten viewers.

Madden of course came off much warmer than McCarver and as a result I think he aged better.

Yeah, good for him for calling it kwits now. I'd like to reture in his honor.

Number 6
Apr 16 2009 09:02 PM

I'm going to miss him. I know he drove a lot of people nuts, and maybe it's because I lack real depth in my football knowledge, but I found him honest, passionate and occasionally enlightening. Probably the same thing that's said by others about McCarver, who really grates on me, but may be better for the more casual fan.

I feel like new analysts today are predominantly ex-jock jokers and bloviators, and it would be a real shame if he's replaced by another of this ilk. Still, good for him for getting out while the getting was good.

MFS62
Apr 17 2009 07:17 AM

Thought I heard on the radio that he'll be replaced by Cris Collinsworth.
He does a good job.
Later