[Update] John Madden Has Retired From NBC
Media Gossip/Musings April 16th. 2009, 10:47am
Busy morning in sports – Dan Patrick just announced on his radio show that John Madden has retired from NBC. Press release coming. below.
“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.”
45 Responses to “[Update] John Madden Has Retired From NBC”
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April 16th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
(insert Favre comment here)
April 16th, 2009 at 10:49 AM
wow. i have to say, he was much better on Sunday Night Football the last few years than he was on MNF.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:51 AM
hellooooooo, Collinsworth
April 16th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Turducken for everyone!!!
So long you sloppy bastard.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
never heard of him.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Al and Tiki or Al and the Bus?
Timing makes it difficult to find a veteran replacement, no?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:53 AM
collinsworth would be my choice
April 16th, 2009 at 10:54 AM
thank god. tony siragusa is the only one that can carry the torch i think. who else is gonna state the obvious and talk way too long?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Chris Collinsworth might be the only person that agrees with this statement.
+1 for the turducken reference.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
ESPN will wait ___ years and offer him $____ to come out of retirement?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
there goes the chemistry. easiest football broadcast to listen to by far.
Collinsworth is probably the best analyst in football today, but he and Papa do a helluva job on thursday nights, I’d hate to see them break that up
April 16th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
I’m sure there’s a Gumbel somewhere jackin it just thinking he’ll get the job.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
What is Frank Caliendo going to do now?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Millen
April 16th, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Collinsworth should def be the choice, no doubt.
But…it’s a not-so-well-kept secret that Al doesn’t like Collinsworth. I think they turn it into a 3 man booth with Collinsworth and Tiki or the Bus.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:59 AM
What is Frank Caliendo going to do now?
Hopefully meth.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:00 AM
ugh…might as well just move the whole studio show (all 38 analysts) into the booth.
keep it a two man show.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:00 AM
+2 jpq
+1 Irish
+3 Fluffy
/Paolo’d
April 16th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I don’t think Collinsworth gets it because there is the mentality in television that you need a “personality who’s bigger than the game” in that primetime slot. I don’t think Collinsworth can pull it off. I think The Bus would be the kind of guy who could.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:02 AM
If Tiky or Bus is in the booth, I’m going to find a powerful electromagnet and have it suck a filling through my forehead.
Keep it a two man show. Agreed, Wilhelmreems.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Randy Cross just got done painting my garage, he looks interested.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
please do not let Tiki in the booth.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
See right here…right here…BOOM!…Hehe…That’s how you know, when he puts out a statement, that a guy retired.
/Caliendo’d.
So long John. You were great for many a year and then not so great for many others. But you gave us THE sports video game franchise and made America come face to face with obesit — I mean, Turducken.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
whatever format they do, as long as they stay away from the MNF format, i’ll be happy. stick to the game, that’s why we watch.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
If that comes true, I know what I’m not doing Sunday nights at 8 in the fall.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
I don’t think Collinsworth gets it because there is the mentality in television that you need a “personality who’s bigger than the game†in that primetime slot.
and therein lies the problem
/joe morgan’d
// seriously, listen to how many times he says that phrase during SNB.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Sad day, sure he could be over the top sometimes, or linger too long on a point, or talk to much about some players, but at the end of the day he was a great broadcaster who you spent so much time with over the years that he felt like a part of your family.
That and I’ve owned nearly every version of Madden NFL since 1993.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Kill me.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
I wonder what this will do for the Madden video game franchise.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
and therein lies the problem
I’m just saying it. I don’t agree with it when it happens.
I will be completely shocked if a competent analyst gets it over the “big personality.” Sadly, there are few that can do both.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
It would be nice if Al Davis really cede some control to him or him and a group of guys.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Jay, you made a good point…didn’t mean for it to come off that way
/sincere
April 16th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Classic Madden calls right here… I love Tom Waddle!
April 16th, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Collinsworth.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Finally Summerall has a drinking buddy again!
April 16th, 2009 at 11:29 AM
caliendo can go back to bagging groceries
April 16th, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I know I’m probably in the vast minority on this but football is going to be a lot less fun to watch now. Half the fun was making fun of Madden. Plus, it ALWAYS felt like a big game when Madden was there.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Maybe a 3-man with Collinsworth and Millen…there was a reason NBC went after Millen…
April 16th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
brian baldinger is available.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Bingo, love him or hate him, you can’t deny he made the game feel bigger. Please, no Tiki or Bus, and I really, really hope they don’t go after Simms or Aikman.
“You’re exactly right, Al.”
April 16th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
football won’t be the same without madden… i know thanksgiving hasn’t been the same without him
my vote is for brian billick
April 16th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Would take Collinsworth OR Millen. Both are great calling games. Three man booths tend to get crowded.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:53 AM
collinsworth is a little too cheesey
April 16th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I like Collinsworth. He has that Jay Bilas “I’m arrogant and condescending, but I’m right a lot” thing goin on.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Aikman wouldn’t know what to do with 2 teams that aren’t the Cowboys. He is Fox’s Cowboy color man. He is actually decent when he does other teams. He is a blatant Cowboy apologist for the other 15 weeks per year.