John Earl Madden was an NFL coach and commentator from April 10, 1936 until his death on December 28, 2021. He served as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, who he led to eight playoff appearances, seven division titles, seven AFL/AFC Championship Game appearances, and the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XI.
Madden has the highest winning percentage of any NFL head coach with at least 100 games coached, and he never had a losing season.
John Madden Net worth
Boom! John Madden was a legendary NFL player, sportscaster and entrepreneur who had a net worth of $200 million at the time of his death. At the age of 85, John Madden passed away on December 28th, 2021. John Madden’s coaching career in the NFL was fruitful, but he is better known for his work after his playing days were done.
He became a household name as an NFL color commentator and later lent his name to one of the best-selling video game series of all time. John Madden was also an established writer and he appeared in many advertisements for a wide range of different brands.
He made history by becoming the first TV host to earn $1 million a year. In addition, he was one of the first performers to make over $1 million annually from endorsements. The bulk of Madden’s $200 million fortune was a result of the “Madden” video game. Below, you’ll find much more information about this offer.
John Madden Early Years
On April 10, 1936, John Madden entered the world in Austin, Minnesota. His father, seeking better employment prospects as an auto mechanic, uprooted the family to California. John was still a young man, having spent the majority of his formative years in a sleepy town to the south of San Francisco.
He started out at a Catholic elementary school before transferring to Jefferson High. During his time in high school, John Madden quickly became a high-performing member of the football team. John was a gifted young athlete with potential on both offense and defense. He also showed considerable skill on the baseball diamond.
John Madden Division I football
After John Madden finished high school in 1954, he enrolled at College of San Mateo to play football. After his freshman year, he transferred to the University of Oregon to continue his education in pre-law while also joining the football team. Madden’s playing career was derailed by the first of two major injuries during his time at Oregon. He missed a lot of the season because he needed knee surgery.
John Madden played another season of football in San Mateo after he had recovered from his initial injury. After that, he attended Cal Poly and was a two-way player for the Mustangs.
Madden once again validated his status as a top-tier football player by earning all-conference honors and establishing himself as a formidable offensive tackle. While attending college he played catcher for the baseball team and graduated with a BS in Education and an MA in Education in 1961.
John Madden Expert Football Playing
John Madden did briefly dabble in professional football, but his career was doomed before it even got started. It appeared that Madden would have an opportunity to play in the NFL after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round of the 1958 draft.
His first training camp ended in tragedy, though. His career was cut short when he injured his other knee in addition to the one that was already injured.
John Madden Career in Television
John Madden’s career as a football analyst and color commentator began almost immediately after he left the coaching profession. Over time, he amassed experience at Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC, the four major broadcasters.
He rose to prominence and eventually became one of the highest-paid sportscasters in the United States. John Madden is notoriously afraid of flying, so NBC offered to build him a “luxury train” as an inducement to join the network.
John Madden Sponsorship Agreements
John Madden was one of the first celebrities to make more than $1 million annually from endorsements in the 1980s. In the 1980s he had endorsement deals with Miller Lite, Exxon, McDonald’s, Canon and Ramada Inn.
The Tenactin endorsement deal is what people probably remember him for today. In the early 2000s, his annual salary from Tenactin alone was $2 million. Later in life, Madden endorsed companies like Toyota, Verizon, Miller Lite, Outback Steakhouse, and Ace Hardware.
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