The Philadelphia Eagles and the entire football community come together to mourn the passing of John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach whose impact on the game goes beyond the gridiron. Madden was 85.
Football fans today know Madden as the name behind the industry-changing video game series or as the enthusiastic broadcaster whose passion for the game cultivated a generation of fans or as the Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Oakland Raiders with the best win percentage of any coach who was on the sidelines for at least 100 games (.759).
Madden's pro football career actually started in 1958 with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he was a 21st-round draft pick but a knee injury in Training Camp ended his playing career. His ties to the Eagles continued all the way through his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Madden was a member of the Class of 2006 along with the late defensive end Reggie White.
