John Madden
From Wiki 5A
John was born on April 10, 1936, in Austin, Minnesota. He went to Jefferson High School, where he played football and baseball. When he graduated in 1954 he got a scholarship to San Mateo University.
After going to San Mateo for a while he decided to transfer to Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University) to play football and baseball. But Madden's heart was on football. Madden was looking forward to the NFL.
After graduating from college, he finally got his dream to play in the NFL in 1958. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 21st round, but a devastating knee injury in training camp caused Madden ever to play a game in the NFL. But John never left the game of football.
In 1967 Madden was hired by the Oakland Raiders where he worked as the Raiders linebackers coach for one year. After the 1968 season, John was hired as the head coach of the Raiders. During Madden’s nine year career he lead the Raiders to the 1976 AFC championship and to top off the 1976 season the Oakland Raiders won Super Bowl XI! That was Madden’s first and only Super Bowl win. Madden ended his career with a 112-39-7 overall record.
Madden is still today involved in football. He broadcasts NFL games and is very good at it, too. John has one fear, and it’s the fear of flying. He doesn’t like flying because at his former college, Cal Poly, there was a plane crash that killed sixteen players. John likes making commercials and creating video games. His latest game is called Madden07 a football game, of course. On August 5, 2006 John Madden was inducted into the pro football hall of fame.
John still broadcasts today. When not traveling, Virginia (his wife) and John live in Pleaston, California. Before games he talks about the big plays that the team has made.
