John Madden and Hall of Fame bust in tow from his 2006 HOF induction.

During the same week that broadcasting legend Harry Kalas passes away, color analyst deluxe and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden announced his retirement from the booth on Thursday morning. The 16-time Emmy Award winner first garnered acclaim as a head coach before joining CBS’ broadcast team in 1979.

“It’s time. I’m 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall,” Madden said. “I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I’m home and, more importantly, when I’m not.”

One of the most influential football broadcasters of all-time, Madden gianed his greatest notoriety as a broadcaster while working with Pat Summerall from 1981 through 2002. The duo became CBS’ A-team for NFC games and then carried that success over to FOX from ’94 to ’02.

Following the removal of Summerall from the FOX “A-team”, Madden departed for ABC’s Monday Night Football prior to the 2002 season to work with Al Michaels before joining the play by play great again at NBC in 2006.    

While it seems like a shock, the 73-year-old Madden missed a Bucs/Seahawks game last season over concerns of another cross-country trip from California to Florida. That should have been the first warning sign that the big guy was slowing down.  Regardless, Madden’s style and popularity will be hard to duplicate. He will be greatly missed.

By the way, he still makes a hell of a video game.