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John Madden retires, EA to retain name

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Apr 16, 2009 12:22 pm PT

[UPDATE]: NFL broadcasting legend hangs up his headset, but Electronic Arts will keep name on NFL games.

NBC announced the retirement of NFL broadcaster John Madden today in a move so sudden it would be deserving of a trademark "Boom!" from the big man himself.

Boom!

Rather than taking a season-long victory lap on the network's Sunday night NFL broadcasts, the 73-year-old is stepping down from the booth, effective immediately. His final telecast was this year's Super Bowl, which saw the Pittsburgh Steelers tough out a win against the postseason underdog Arizona Cardinals.

Although Madden was enormously popular for his on-the-fly analysis of games, his expertise drawn from his years as a coach with the Oakland Raiders, and his occasional tangents onto subjects like "cankles" or "great coaches with hats," he also left a significant mark on the gaming industry. John Madden Football debuted on the Apple II and Commodore 64 in 1989 and quickly broke away from the pack of other pigskin sims upon moving to the Sega Genesis the next year. In all, more than 100 versions of Electronic Arts' Madden NFL games have been made spanning virtually every major system released in the last 20 years (sorry, Dreamcast).

As of press time, Electronic Arts had not responded to requests for comment on how the retirement will change plans for the Madden NFL series going forward. In 2005, EA signed a "multiyear" agreement to use the former coach's moniker on its football games, though the exact length of that deal was not disclosed. If the series will change due to the retirement, it might not happen until next year. Madden NFL 10 has already been announced with an August 14 release date.

Madden, who never actually stepped on the field as an NFL player after a knee injury, coached the Raiders to a Super Bowl in 1976. After retiring from the sidelines with the second-highest winning percentage of any coach (behind the legendary Vince Lombardi), he moved on to become an NFL analyst and has won several Emmy awards. The heavy travel demanded by Madden's broadcast job was aggravated by a severe fear of flying, leading the analyst to drive from destination to destination in a tricked-out RV called "The Maddencruiser."

[UPDATE]: Electronic Arts released a statement from EA Sports president Peter Moore saying that the publisher's football series will keep its ties to the Madden name.

"We're excited to see his legacy live on in the 21st year of Madden NFL football, and well beyond," Moore said. "It's been a privilege for EA Sports to have had the strong relationship we've had with John for more than two decades and one that will continue into the future."

144 Comments

  • tequilero

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 3:25 pm PT

    So long,John.

  • nappan

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 9:13 am PT

    @JohnnyDrama8: Should Tom Clancy be the VA for Sam Fisher then?

  • nappan

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 9:13 am PT

    I'm sorry, but the departure of that mumbling alcoholic isn't a tragedy for gaming or football. Anyone who bought or buys madden for the man, and not the gameplay, isn't getting the point of videogames at all.

  • JohnnyDrama8

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 5:37 am PT

    So Madden 2010 without John Madden that sounds like false advertising to me.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 3:43 am PT

    It would be a fitting end to his career to have Madden on the cover of the 20th anniversary game

  • Fife1100

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 5:24 pm PT

    John Madden you will be remembered....

  • Mr_Fujiv1

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 4:11 am PT

    dont change the name :/

  • MrG31

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 9:31 pm PT

    Madden's family may be living off this game for years after John moves on to the big gridiron in the sky.

  • rctyke

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 9:13 pm PT

    Why change the name? The Madden name has been the best sellings names in the sports game industry. If that happens and it doesn't sell as well, looks like we may have the 2K franchise to rise again.

  • zinoalex

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    It will be a shame to see the llikeness and candidness of John Madden NOT on an EA yearly release.The franchise has has progressed so well and the loyal following is so great there would be an all-out protest aimed at EA and their affiliates.John does'nt like the Steelers.(A grudge stiil held from the "Immaculate reception" days?)The Steelers won the last Super Bowl. In which he was a part of the broadcasting team.Hmm......

  • huladog123

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 1:40 pm PT

    Look, if the guy is retiring, then should EA really still be using his name let's say-- 20 years from now? A brand new franchise name would do just fine.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 1:19 pm PT

    he looks like the joker without makeup

  • REA24409

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    I say change it to something different, like NFL instead of Madden. It doesn't matter though because the game sucks either way.

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:26 pm PT

    "EA to retain name."

    John Madden, you will never sleep well at night. Electronic Arts is going to rip so much out of your name that your parents' gift to you will be synonymous with the term for a para-solid human excrement. You should have forced EA to give up the license to this one aspect of your identity.

  • ldonyo

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 6:10 pm PT

    I played the original on the C64. It was head and shoulders above the competition. Too bad it hasn't stayed that way.

  • Da_Skull_King

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 2:50 pm PT

    they should get his name off the games, hes and idiot who doesnt know what hes talking about. im glad hes not broadcasting anymore

  • maverick_76

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 2:06 pm PT

    From what I know, Madden actually does have the highest winning percentage, Lombardi is second behind Madden. I am glad to hear that EA will keep the name, it would not be the same game without his face and name. Now EA needs to work on making Madden more realistic and simulation like, from what I have heard they are supposedly doing a pretty big overhaul to the gameplay this coming year so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

  • MrWipeMeDown40

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 2:04 pm PT

    madden is a bad game anyway

  • Threesixtyci

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 12:55 pm PT

    Heh... I actually have the old PC game that is pictured with this article.

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 11:38 am PT

    I for one am glad he's retiring, too bad they couldn't just retire the Madden games as well.....

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