September 23, 1979 turned out to be a pretty significant date in NFL history, especially because of a single game — New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers — whose action has long been forgotten.
That was the day John Madden first called an NFL game on TV. It’s on YouTube (most of it anyway), and it’s pretty glorious stuff.
The tributes have been rolling in for Madden, who died at the age of 85 Tuesday morning. Whether you celebrated him as a coach, an announcer, pitch man or video game impresario, Madden’s impact on football is indelible and undeniable.