Legendary American Football coach and commentator John Madden has died at the age of 85, the National Football League (NFL) has reported.
The league said he died unexpectedly and did not give a cause.
Madden led the then-Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in 1977 and became a hugely popular television analyst after retiring from coaching.
He later became the face of Madden NFL Football, one of the most successful sports video games ever.
“Nobody loved football more than Coach,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
“There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”
Madden coached the Raiders from 1969 to 1978. He won Super Bowl XI when they went through the 1976 regular season with a 13-1 record.
He boasts the best winning percentage of NFL coaches who have taken charge of more than 100 games.
The NFL is saddened to share the passing of the legendary John Madden. He was 85. pic.twitter.com/MxLFYLfY8k
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2021
But he will perhaps be best remembered for his career in commentary, after retiring from coaching at just 42.
Known for his unpretentious style, Madden travelled to games in his own bus because he suffered from claustrophobia. He also developed a fear of flying.
Madden went on to win 16 Emmy Awards and covered 11 Super Bowls from 1979-2009. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
“People always ask, are you a coach or a broadcaster or a video game guy?” he said when was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I’m a coach, always been a coach.”