The NFL lost one of its all-time greats this week. Hall of Fame head coach and Hall of Fame broadcaster John Madden passed away at the age of 85. He was one of the titans of the industry. The name behind the highest-selling football video game franchise in history and owner of one of the highest winning percentages as a coach. When people think of American football, Madden was always one of the names people know. Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Dan Hampton would agree.
Mike Sando of The Athletic put together a fantastic piece about the legend, stories from people who experienced him over the course of decades. Most notably his incredible sense of humor. Hampton was one of those people. He knew Madden well back in 1981, both as a former coach and rising broadcaster. So it was a bit intimidating that he’d have to meet with the guy before a big rivalry game on November 15th in Green Bay.
The 24-year old Hampton never could’ve predicted what happened next.
Hampton was called to be interviewed by Madden and Pat Summerall in a production meeting at a hotel in Green Bay the night before a Bears-Packers game. “When I get there, they are talking to Bob Avellini,” Hampton says. “Gary Fencik is next. I’m sitting in the corner. And then Fencik finishes. Madden is smoking a cigar.”
Madden: “You, you’re Hampton.”
Hampton: “Yes, sir.”
Madden: “Arkansas, right?”
Hampton: “Yes, sir.”
Hampton was impressed Madden knew what school he went to.
“He goes, ‘You’re the only guy who ever made it out of Arkansas, aren’t you?’ ” Hampton says. “I said, ‘Oh, no.’ I start naming all these players, nobodies. Joe Ferguson, this guy, that guy. He’s chuckling. Finally, after I name eight or 10 of them, he wheels around to Summerall and says, ‘See there, asshole, nobody gave a shit about you at Arkansas.’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right, Summerall went to Arkansas!’ It was so cool that all day long he waited to pull that little gag on Summerall, who he loved.”
That is just one insanely funny story in a column full of them.
Hampton later found out that Madden was actually a big fan of his. Three years later the former coach established his All-Madden team. The Bears star was one of its inaugural members and would make the team every year except for one until his retirement in 1991. It wasn’t just the player either. Madden was never shy about showering that Bears team with love. To his dying day, he declared the 1985 defense the best he’d ever seen in NFL history.
Considering he went against the iconic Steel Curtain Steelers in the 1970s as a coach, that is the highest praise the man could offer. His breakdown prior to Super Bowl XX of the Bears’ 46 defense under Buddy Ryan is some of the best classroom stuff you’re likely to get. Madden was always viewed as a jovial personality. Not enough people realized how intelligent he actually was. Sharper than a scalpel. Dan Hampton found that out in the best possible way.
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