The legendary football coach John Madden died in California at the age of 85. Madden was the figurehead of the NFL for decades, even if he had never played in the league.
In the element: John Madden as coach of the Oakland Raiders in December 1970.
Roger Goodell, the often waxy-looking NFL commissioner, found the right words for once when he said on Tuesday: “John was football. We owe him eternal gratitude for what he has done for this sport and this league. ” And Jerry Jones, the militant owner of the Dallas Cowboys, wrote almost reverently: “I don’t know anyone who has done more for the NFL. Nobody loved this sport more than he did. “