This morning, NBC announced that John Madden, Hall Of Fame coach with the Oakland Raiders and the gold standard for NFL color commentary for the last 30 years, has decided to retire from broadcasting. In his ellipses-abusing official statement, Madden sites his age (73-years-old) and his upcoming 50th anniversary, as well as his extended family, including five grandchildren who “are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not.” Madden leaves the booth with a long list of accomplishments:
• Leading the Raiders to a stunning 103-32-7 record under his watch, including seven AFC Western Division titles and a victory in Super Bowl XI. His .750 winning percentage is the best in NFL history.
• A broadcasting career that spanned 30 years and all four major networks, earning him an absurd 18 Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality and 16 wins.
• The #1 sports video game title ever in EA Sports’ Madden NFL Football line.
Madden leaves some difficult shoes to fill, but we’re certain that EA Sports’ new Dennis Miller ’10 game will be every bit as beloved and successful.