NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced Thursday that John Madden is retiring from broadcasting.

The 30-year NBC veteran Hall of Fame coach is often considered the most honored broadcaster in television sports history

"It's time," Madden said "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..."

Madden continued: "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."

Madden has served as the game analyst for NBC Sunday Night Football since 2006 and has won an 16 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Analyst/Personality. His video game Madden NFL Football is the No. 1 selling sports video game of all-time.

"I still love every part of it," he said. "The travel, the practices, the game film, the games, seeing old friends and meeting new people... but I know this is the right time."

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/04/madden-retires-from-broadcasting-its-time.html

John Madden will be missed he was a great announcer for all 4 Network's CBS FOX ABC and NBC.

Madden annoyed me sometimes but I'll miss him as broadcaster he seems like a great guy.

Link (http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/04/collinsworth-named-maddens-successor.html?hpid=topnews)

Cris Collinsworth will succeed John Madden as the analyst in the NBC broadcast booth for the network's Sunday night NFL game telecasts, NBC executive Dick Ebersol announced during a conference call with reporters today.

Madden announced his retirement from broadcasting earlier today, rejecting an offer made Wednesday by Ebersol to work the network's September and November games next season and take October and December off.

Collinsworth had been on the NBC studio show.

"John's successor will be Cris Collinsworth," Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Sports, said during the conference call. "... Cris has always given us the luxury of having the two best broadcasters."

Wow Chris Collinsworth will take over as analyst on NBC Sunday Night Football

The end of an era. I was never Madden's biggest fan, but he was usually entertaining. I would take him over Collinsworth any day.

The best thing about Madden is that he acted like a fan of the game. I'm sure going to miss him. I can't stand Collinsworth. I'm not surprised at all that he's replacing him though.

I wonder if John Madden will still do his video Game's

I love Cris Collinsworth because he says all the stuff I say while watching the game. I think he is a good replacement.


This is not surprising news by theway because it was already mentioned in December/Jamuary that he was not going to be back next season and that he would be replaced by Cris.

I never liked Madden, but I hate Collingsworth more.

this truly is the end of an era there will never be another john madden

John Madden may not have been the best color commentator but he was fun and entertaining and will be missed. I wish him well in his retirement. However I look forward to Chris Collinsworth bringing his knowledge and analytical skill to Sunday Night Football.

He's had a good long run. God bless him. :D

Why is ESPN acting like JohnMadden died?-lol Damm, it has been ongoing coverage all day and if I had just walked in the house I would have thought he passed away. All the man did was retire. They are showing old footage of him in the booth as a CBS announcer, FOx Announcer. ESPN needs to relax

from what I heard my dad said that John Madden made Mistake and he is saying that why he is retireing that is what myt dad told me last night.

Have a Happy Retirement, Madden.:wave:

Why is ESPN acting like JohnMadden died?-lol Damm, it has been ongoing coverage all day and if I had just walked in the house I would have thought he passed away. All the man did was retire. They are showing old footage of him in the booth as a CBS announcer, FOx Announcer. ESPN needs to relax

ESPN seems to have a habit of taking a certain story and blowing it way out of proporiton (as if a head of state just died). For instance, they did it when Brett Farve retired the first time and later signed with the Jets. They did it when Tom Brady blew out his knee at the start of the season. They did it in the various sagas surrounding Terrell Owens.