Long before he was the voice of the National Football League, John Madden was systematically carving out for himself a place among the legends of the game. He is today nearly as synonymous with football as the words “touchdown” and “field goal”. Oakland Raiders fans know Madden all too well, as he was responsible for one of the best periods of their history, as he led the team during a good part of the Seventies. During that time, the Raiders won games, division titles, and – ultimately – their first ever Super Bowl Championship.

The pre-Madden years
The Raiders’ pedigree stretches back to the fledgling years of the now-dead AFL (American Football League). They were one of the League’s charter franchises in 1960, and spent the next decade winning a total of three titles in their division, and one AFL championship. The team’s Coach, John Rauch, led them to that championship in 1967, and then followed up the title with two straight divisional titles. Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to defeat their AFL opponents in the playoffs during those two seasons, as they were beaten first by the New York Jets and then by the Kansas City Chiefs – both of whom went on to win the super Bowl after defeating Oakland.

Coach Madden
As the Head Coach beginning in 1969, John Madden was something of an unknown quantity. Though he coached the Raiders’ linebackers for two seasons before his elevation to the head position, Madden’s career had really seen its zenith in his high school and college years. His professional football playing experience was, for all intents and purposes, nonexistent, as injuries prevented him from ever taking the field as a player. In addition, he was – at age 32 – the youngest head coach in professional football history, leading many to think that he may have been getting in over his depth.

The Raiders’ long march
There was no doubt that Madden’s Raiders teams could play the game. With him as Coach they managed five appearances in the AFC title match during a seven year period. The fact that they lost all five only served to bolster the impression of the team as one that could get the big fish on the line, but never seem to haul it in. For John Madden, however, there was no doubt in his mind that his team was among the best of the League – and he was determined to keep them focused on landing that elusive big fish. Part of his goal had to be finding a way to defeat the Pittsburg Steelers – who were singlehandedly responsible for three of those AFC title losses.

Landing the big fish
Magic would happen during the 1976 season, as the Raiders won thirteen games. In the playoffs, they first defeated the New England Patriots, and set themselves up for another encounter with the Steelers. This time, Madden’s team was prepared, and they finally earned a berth in the biggest game of all. Super Bowl XI was the stage in which Madden and his Raiders would dismantle the NFC’s Minnesota Vikings to win the title. For Madden, it was the finest moment in what would eventually be a legendary career.

Author Bio: Ivan Jamison is a big sports fan. You can check out his Oakland Raiders Watch or his Los Angeles Dodgers or his New York Mets Watch

Category: Sports
Keywords: Oakland Raiders