Colin Cowherd: “When you’re hearing people talk about John Madden it’s very unique that you can be relevant in multiple industries for 40-50 years. His relevance is absolutely unmatched. John was a legendary coach in the ’70s, an amazing broadcaster in the ’80s and ’90s, was a game-tech pioneer after that, and to the very last years of his life network executives and coaches were calling him to pick his brain. What really gets me about Madden is that he was way smarter than anyone gives him credit for. Everybody cares about how people view them, and John leaned into what he was, like he really understood. He was big, and he was loud, and fun, and he leaned right into it, but he was really intelligent. The only person I can think of who has been a part of our social fabric for that long has been Oprah. The Raiders were so unbelievably memorable because there’s never been a team who matched their coach. You have to be really smart to be part of an organization that is perfectly constructed. Another part of the intelligence for Madden was his simplicity. As a coach, John Madden had three rules. He understood as a former player, the fewer rules the faster players play. Show up on time, listen, and play your butt off Sunday, that was it. That is brilliant. Politicians today should watch John Madden. He would connect with everybody but was better than nobody, and it was all about simplicity. When you think of Madden you just think ‘BIG’, and ‘ROUGH’, and ‘PHYSICAL’, but what you don’t ever hear people talk about is how damn smart he was. He had the football integrity and intensity of Mike Tomlin, the relatability and the ability to adapt like Andy Reid, the brainpower of Belichick, and the love for power football like Kyle Shanahan. Like many legends, he was the combination of many things, and like all legends, there was nobody else like him. He made TV better, he made football better, he gave credit to people, linemen, that nobody ever talked about, and he was completely authentic. Often imitated, never duplicated. To be that relevant and that respected you have to be so on top of it, and so smart. If you played football, loved it, coached it, talked about it, broadcasted it, John had an influence on your life. One of the smartest human beings the NFL has ever had. You cannot be relevant for that many decades without massive brainpower. Rest in peace.” (Full Segment Above)
Listen to Colin Cowherd remember the life of the late John Madden, who passed away at the age of 85 Tuesday morning. Check out the segment above as Colin opens up about Madden’s massive influence on the sport of football, and his unyielding charisma and charm that always made him one of the most lovable and respected NFL figures of all time, while also being able to connect and relate to players, coaches, and fans across multiple generations.
Colin Cowherd Ranks His Top 10 NFL Teams After Week 16
'He Sold His Soul': Rob Parker Rips Bruce Arians For Keeping Antonio Brown
'They Were Sold a Lie': Brady Quinn Defends Urban Meyer After Jags Firing
Former NFL Players Mock Josh Lambo For Alleged Urban Meyer 'Kicking' Story
Former NBA Veteran Calls Out Jake Paul For Ducking Fight Against Him
Doug Gottlieb Rips 'Idiots' Tweeting at His Travis Hunter, Jackson St. Take
'He Can't Hit Big Shots': Rob Parker Says Curry Isn't Greatest Shooter Ever
Doug Gottlieb Calls Time Magazine 'Idiots' For Giving Award to Simone Biles
'It's a B*tch Move': Former Redskins Players Rip RGIII For Tell-All Book