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NFL teams to honor John Madden with moment of silence before Week 17 games

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/30/21

Tributes continue to pour in from the NFL and sports world following the sad passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, who died at the age of 85 on Tuesday. FOX has confirmed it's re-airing the "All Madden" documentary on its broadcast network Thursday night, and the league's teams will also honor the legendary head coach, broadcaster and video game personality this weekend and Monday night.

Per ESPN and Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all home teams for Week 17 games asking them to hold moments of silence for Madden ahead of renditions of the national anthem.

"Ladies and gentlemen, earlier this week the NFL family lost a Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster and friend with the passing of John Madden," reads a statement included in the memo that clubs can use during Week 17. "At this time, please stand and join in a moment of silent reflection in memory of John Madden, who had an indelible impact on football, the NFL and generations of fans."

Goodell added:

"As you know, the NFL lost a true giant on Tuesday with the passing of John Madden. To help honor his legacy, we ask that each home team in Week 17 observe a moment of silence in his memory just prior to the start of the game."

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick offered a lengthy and emotional tribute to Madden during Wednesday's press conference, and Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns, the reigning Professional Football Writers of America and Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, spoke briefly about Madden's off-the-field legacy on Thursday morning.

Stefanski isn't sure anyone had a bigger impact on football than John Madden. Said he first started playing video game in 1993.#Browns
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) December 30, 2021

“It was just such a big part of our childhood growing up,” Stefanski said about the video game series that shares Madden's famous name, according to Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com. "Playing with your friends and he was ubiquitous in all that. And then as a commentator, he was a lot of times doing those NFC games for FOX, so growing up an Eagles fan, anytime you heard Madden and (Pat) Summerall, you knew it was a big game."

Logic suggests the league will also honor Madden in some way at Super Bowl LVI in February.

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