Unless something unthinkable happens at EA Sports, John Madden will forever be synonymous with the hugely popular NFL video game series that has borne his name since 1988 – Madden.
He might have gained wide recognition for his involvement in video gaming; However, it was his exploits as a coach that gave him the endorsement. Madden was at the time of his appointment the youngest head coach in the NFL. He went on to win the Super Bowl, among other accomplishments that earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
John Madden Biography
John Madden was born to Mary Margaret (née Flaherty) and Earl Russell Madden on April 10, 1936 in Austin, Minnesota. He was, however, raised in Daly City, a small town south of San Francisco, California. Her father worked as an auto mechanic while her mother was a housewife.
Madden attended the Catholic parish school of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and then Jefferson High School, where he was a star football player. He graduated in 1954 and went on to college in San Mateo where he spent a year before earning a football scholarship to attend the University of Oregon. Madden’s football career in Oregon, however, was cut short by a knee injury that required him to undergo surgery. He eventually lost his scholarship and returned to San Mateo in 1955. The following year he moved to Grays Harbor College but immediately transferred to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where he qualified for a Bachelor of Science degree. of education and a master’s degree. in the same discipline.
After graduating from school, John Madden was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1958 NFL Draft with the 244th overall pick. Sadly, Madden never got the chance to play professional football as he suffered a knee injury in pre-season which forced him into retirement. But then it became an opportunity for him to merge his love of football and teaching together. So he became a coach. In 1960, he was appointed assistant coach at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Two years later, he was promoted to head coach. That didn’t stop him from quitting after a year to become a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State University.
Madden spent three years in San Diego before moving up the ladder. This time, he joined the NFL’s Oakland Raiders as a linebackers coach. He was instrumental in the team that reached Super Bowl II that season. When head coach John Rauch left his position in 1969, the Raiders appointed him to the position and he became the best coach in franchise history.
Professional Achievements
John Madden has never had a losing season as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. He was the youngest coach to score 100 career regular season wins, a feat he achieved in just 10 full seasons. John won Super Bowl XI in 1977 before retiring in 1978 to pursue a career in media. This has earned him 16 Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Event Analyst, the 1984 National Sports Broadcasters and Reporters Association Award, and the 2002 Pete Rozelle Broadcasting Award, among others.
His net worth
John Madden is believed to have a net worth of $200 million. The Super Bowl-winning coach derived much of his fortune from his coaching and athletic career. However, the majority of his wealth came from his association with EA Sports, the company that makes the Madden NFL video game.
Since 1988, Madden has lent its voice, personality and name to the series of video games that have sold over 43 million copies. It’s unclear exactly what EA Sports paid him at first, but around 2005, the company reportedly paid him $150 million to use his identity and name in perpetuity. Madden has other lucrative endorsement deals that have earned him a wealthy lifestyle.
The family life of John Madden
On December 26, 1959, John Madden married his wife, Virginia Fields. Madden reportedly met her at a bar in Pismo Beach when he was a student at Cal Poly. At that time, Fields was a teacher working towards her own master’s degree.
The couple went on to have two sons (Joseph and Michael) who both played college football. Joe attended and played for Brown University, while Mike starred and played wide receiver for Harvard University.
