John Madden: The American Football Team

Born on the 10th of April 1936 in Austin, Minnesota, John Madden moved to Daly City, California with his family at an early age. He was always an avid athlete and sports enthusiast as a child, playing several sports throughout high school. At California Polytechnic College, Madden played on both the offensive and defensive lines for its football team and was a catcher for the school's baseball team.

In terms of schooling, Madden received his Bachelor of Science diploma in 1959 and followed it up with a Master of Arts degree in 1961, both from California Polytechnic. It was his athletics, however, that showed the most promise career-wise. Madden entered the NFL draft in 1958 and was picked 21st overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
He went from high school to university coach, landing the defensive coordinator job at San Diego State in 1964. In the two seasons Madden stayed with San Diego State University, the Aztecs were 26-4 and ranked first among the small colleges in the country.

Despite this success, Madden could not pass up the next job offer that came his way. In 1967, he took the Oakland Raiders of the American Football Conference up on their offer to become linebacker coach. For another two seasons, he excelled in the role. In fact, Madden impressed the Raiders' top executives so much that when it came time to look for a new head coach in 1969, they did not hesitate to hire him.

With the new job, Madden became the youngest head coach in the American Football League, at 33 years old. He held the post for 10 successful seasons, creating a quasi-dynasty that included seven Western Division titles and a win in Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota
His knowledge of the game, and expressions like "Boom!" and "Wham!," made him a popular football figure. Soon, he garnered contracts for various products as well, becoming a spokesperson for Tinactin antifungal ointment, Ace Hardware and Outback Steakhouse. He moved from CBS to FOX and most recently began doing the Monday Night Football broadcasts on ABC, but the switch never changed a thing: Madden always draws fans wherever he works.

Madden has been recognized for his work, winning 13 Emmy Awards in his career (he has been nominated for 15) and taking home the esteemed Golden Mike Award from the Touchdown Club of America. The American Sportscasters Association twice named him Sports Personality of the Year (in 1985 and 1992) as well. However, it's not only awards that make him popular: after admitting that he has a fear of flying, Madden bought a tour bus to bring him to all the games he broadcasts. Now, his $800,000, 45-foot luxury coach, known as The Madden Cruiser, is a famous NFL symbol and a popular sight at each