John Madden was a renowned NFL player, sportscaster, and entrepreneur. John Madden passed away on December 28, 2021. John Madden enjoyed great success during his NFL coaching career, but he’s most remembered now for his post-playing endeavors.
He rose to prominence as an NFL commentator and went on to support “Madden NFL,” one of the greatest video game franchises ever. Madden’s story, from being a coach to a broadcaster and entrepreneur, is a story of success and impact. This article explores his net worth, examining how his diverse career paths played a role in his financial success.
What is John Madden Net Worth?
At the time of his death, John Madden’s net worth was estimated to be $200 million. Madden was among the first famous people to receive over $1 million annually from endorsements in the 1980s. He held endorsement agreements in the 1980s with Ramada Inn, McDonald’s, Miller Lite, Exxon, and Canon.
Today, his Tenactin sponsorship contract is arguably what people remember him for the most. He made $2 million a year at his height in the 2000s from his contract with Tenactin alone.
In his later years, Madden also signed endorsement contracts with companies like Toyota, Verizon Wireless, Ace Hardware, Outback Steakhouse, and Miller Lite.
How Did John Madden Start Playing Football?
John Madden began playing football at the College of San Mateo as soon as he finished high school in 1954. He transferred to the University of Oregon after one season to play football for the team and pursue pre-law studies.
Madden’s playing career was derailed by the first of two significant injuries he had while he was at Oregon. He had to miss a lot of his season due to a knee operation.
John Madden returned to San Mateo and played football for another season after healing from his original injury. After that, he joined the Mustangs at California Polytechnic State University, where he played both offense and defense.
Once more, Madden demonstrated his value as a football player by becoming a dominant offensive tackle and earning all-conference recognition. In addition to receiving a BS in education, he played catcher for the college baseball team. In 1961, he received an MA in education.
It was essentially over before it started, even though John Madden did officially play professional football at one point. In the first round of the 1958 NFL Draft, Madden was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, and it appeared as though he might play in the league.
But at his very first training camp, something went wrong. His knee (not the one that had previously been hurt) gave way to an injury that would end his career.
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How Did John Madden Become the Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders?
John Madden completed his college degree in teaching while he was convalescing from a knee ailment. He was also meeting with Norm Van Brocklin, whose career was coming to an end during this period.
The former quarterback ran football game footage for Madden and broke down each play’s mechanics. Madden’s education in teaching began to coincide with his growing knowledge of football. Naturally, a career in coaching followed.
Madden was serving as Allan Hancock College’s assistant coach by 1960. He had taken over as head coach two years earlier. San Diego State later employed him as an assistant defensive coach, a position he held until 1966 when the team was among the best in the country.
Tactical guru Don Coryell employed him during this time, whom Madden subsequently acknowledged as the reason for his achievements as an NFL coach. John Madden joined the Oakland Raiders in 1967 as their linebacker coach.
Head coach Al Davis, who had studied from Sid Gillman, was the source of Madden’s knowledge. This implied that Madden was stealing strategies from a man who indirectly transformed the game of football.
When Davis departed the squad in 1969, Madden, who was only 32 years old, took over as manager. At the time, this made John Madden the youngest head coach in NFL history. John Madden is regarded by many as the greatest Raiders coach of all time.
Nonetheless, from 1969 to 1975, the squad continued to have a bad reputation for dropping important games. When they defeated their venerable opponents, the Steelers, to win the AFC Championship in 1976, everything changed.
They defeated the Minnesota Vikings to win the 1977 Super Bowl the next year. John Madden quit coaching in 1979 after it became evident that his health was suffering from it.
What Career Did John Madden Pursue After Retiring From Coaching?
John Madden started a lengthy and distinguished career as a color analyst and commentator as soon as he announced his retirement from coaching. Eventually, he was employed by Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC, the four major networks.
He eventually rose to become one of American sports’ most sought-after television personalities, earning a multi-million dollar salary. NBC even promised to build Madden a “luxury train” as a means of enticing him to join their network.
How Much Was John Madden Earning at the Peak of His Broadcasting Career?
John Madden’s $8 million annual salary at the height of his broadcasting career comes to about $14 million now. But Madden’s role in video games has eclipsed his years of coaching and commentating, even with that enormous salary.
Actually, the video game brand that bears John Madden’s name accounted for a large portion of his income. His name and likeness have appeared in NFL computer games published by Electronic Arts since 1988. The series has sold over 130 million copies to date, making it a huge commercial success year after year.
Video game maker EA Sports secured a $300 million contract in 2005 to become the NFL’s exclusive game producer. Simultaneously, rumors were circulating that EA was considering removing the term “Madden” from all the next titles.
Later, it was discovered that John Madden had actually agreed to pay an estimated $150 million to have his name and face used in the games forever. Furthermore, until his retirement in 2009, John Madden is said to have received a retainer payment of almost $2 million annually.
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