NFL Commission Roger Goodell incapsulated Madden's impact in his statement on the legend's passing: "He was football."
Madden's death prompted an immediate outpouring of emotion from the football world at large Tuesday evening.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
"On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families. We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
"Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today."