Extended prior to he was the voice in the National Football League, John Madden was systematically carving out for himself a place among the legends on the game. He is these days 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 a single of the most effective periods of their history, as he led the team throughout a excellent part on the Seventies. In the course of that time, the Raiders won games, division titles, and – ultimately – their first ever Super Bowl Championship.The pre-Madden many yearsThe Raiders’ pedigree stretches back for the fledgling years from the now-dead AFL (American Football League). They have been among the League’s charter franchises in 1960, and spent the next decade winning a total of 3 titles in their division, and one particular 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 have been unable to defeat their AFL opponents within the playoffs through those two seasons, as they had been 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 MaddenAs the Head Coach beginning in 1969, John Madden was something of an unknown quantity. Though he coached the Raiders’ linebackers for two seasons prior to his elevation for the head position, Madden’s career had really seen its zenith in his high school and college many years. His expert 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 expert football history, leading numerous to think that he may have been getting in over his depth.The Raiders’ extended marchThere was no doubt that Madden’s Raiders teams could play the game. With him as Coach they managed five appearances inside AFC title match throughout a seven year period. The fact that they lost all five only served to bolster the impression in the team as one particular that could get the big fish on the line, but never seem to haul it in. For John Madden, nonetheless, there was no doubt in his mind that his team was among the most beneficial in the League – and he was determined to keep them focused on landing that elusive massive fish. Part of his goal had to be finding a way to defeat the Pittsburg Steelers – who had been singlehandedly responsible for three of those AFC title losses.Landing the big fishMagic would happen while in the 1976 season, as the Raiders won thirteen games. Within the playoffs, they very 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 within 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.
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