NEW YORK – NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced today that John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and the most honored broadcaster in sports television history, has decided to retire from broadcasting.
John Madden:
“It’s time. I’m 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I’m home and, more importantly, when I’m not…
It’s been such a great ride… the NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion – it still is. I appreciate all of the people who are and were such an important part of the most enjoyable, most fun anyone could have… that great life with the teams, the players, the coaches, the owners, the League… my broadcasting partners Pat and Al… the production people and the fans …is still great… it’s still fun and that’s what it makes it hard and that’s why it took me a few months to make a decision.
I still love every part of it – the travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people… but I know this is the right time.”
Won’t be the same without him.
2 Comments
Madden started to look pretty mean in his older age, I wonder if he was cranky behind the scenes
Yeah, not to detract from his greatness–and he is the best there's ever been, there's no doubt about that. But within the last 5-8 years, it seems that he moved from the guy who could explain anything in terms understandable to even the most casual of fan, to the guy who routinely pointed out the obvious, and often the painfully obvious.