Eddie George, Vince Young react to passing of John Madden

George and Young both graced the cover of the “Madden NFL” video game series, but George was the first player to do so.

The NFL world is mourning the loss of legendary head coach and broadcaster, John Madden, who passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday morning at the age of 85.

Madden was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 through 1978, winning Super Bowl XI and compiling a 103-32-7 record in that span, giving him the highest winning percentage of any head coach in NFL history with a minimum of 100 games coached. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

After his coaching career was over, Madden became one of the most well-known broadcasters of all-time. The “Madden NFL” video game franchise that bears his name has also become a staple in the gaming industry.

The first player to grace the cover of the “Madden NFL” video game series was Tennessee Titans great, Eddie George, who was featured on the cover of the 2001 version.

George took to social media on Tuesday night to share his reaction to Madden’s passing with a picture of his “Madden NFL” cover photo, along with the caption, “Rest in Peace.”

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George wasn’t the only Titans player to be featured on a cover of the game, as quarterback Vince Young graced it in 2008. He also shared his thoughts on Madden’s passing on social media.

Whether it was because of his career as a head coach, broadcaster, and/or having a wildly-popular video game named after him, Madden’s name is known to multiple generations of sports and video game fans alike.

Few, if any, have made the kind of impact Madden did for the sport, and he’ll continue to go down as one of the most influential figures in NFL history.

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