John Madden, who coached the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl then became an iconic football broadcaster, announced Friday that he was retiring from his free-form, inevitably delightful twice-a-week call-ins to the KCBS morning show.
“There’s only two things every week I have to do,” said Madden, 82, referring to his Monday morning and Friday morning call-ins. “And I thought, if I could get rid of those, I wouldn’t have anything.
“I’m at a point in my life where I can do that. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving. I just don’t want the schedule.”
From 1997 to 2015 Madden called in five days a week at 8:15 a.m. — sometimes from his Maddencruiser as he crisscrossed the country from one NFL broadcasting assignment to another. Previous to KCBS, Madden had shows on KYA, KSFO and KNBR.
In a Twitter post Friday morning, KCBS morning show co-anchor Stan Bunger joked that Madden was getting a new title from the radio station.
ICYMI: John #Madden announced this AM on @KCBSRadio he's doing what every retiree dreams of: removing every last obligation from his weekly schedule. So: no more regular Mon/Fri visit with us. BUT: as ""Senior Investigative At-Large Correspondent", he promises occasional visits.
— Stan Bunger (@BungerKCBSRadio) August 17, 2018
“At large?” repeated Madden, a long-time Pleasanton resident. “That means large guy. Senior is old and large is big — a big ol’ fat guy.
It was almost a year ago that Madden announced he would be returning to KCBS after a two-year absence. Heart surgery and other health concerns forced him off the air around Thanksgiving 2015.
“We’re fired up to have him back,” Bunger told the Bay Area News Group at the time. “John is a Bay Area treasure and the most gifted communicator I’ve ever been around. The way he tells stories, his powers of observation, his timing and sense of humor — are just amazing. He has an ability to connect with anyone, from every walk of life.”
Madden could find humor in the unlikeliest places. It was as if he couldn’t help himself.
Once, before an important San Francisco 49ers game, there was a long line of reporters and photographers waiting to get into the lunchroom at Candlestick Park for a pregame meal. Madden exited the room, saw the line and said, “You’re all standing out here, but when you get inside the food’s not even that good.”
Can't fit everything I feel about John #Madden in one tweet. But: amazing communicator & storyteller. I am so fortunate to have been able to bask in his shadow these last 18 years. A bit jealous of his now-obligation-free schedule! He'll be back on @KCBSRadio from time to time.
— Stan Bunger (@BungerKCBSRadio) August 17, 2018
Madden was asked if would call KCBS on special occasions, for example when the Cleveland Browns (1-31 in the past two seasons) finally win a game.
“I’ll be ready,” Madden said. “When the Browns win anything, I’ll be ready.”